Make a Donation

DONATE NOW TO OUR ANNUAL CAMPAIGN FUND

What a year we are having at the Bay School Community Arts Center—and what a difference you make!

Every brushstroke, every child's proud smile, every spark of creative discovery that happens here is made possible by your generosity. Together, we bring the arts to life in every corner of our community.

In 2024, our gallery opened its doors to 7,836 visitors across 10 exhibitions and 19 special events, offering spaces where people laughed, learned, and connected through local creativity. Our studios buzzed with possibility: 644 individual students dove into 119 art classes and 28 summer camps, and each week, 56 children found a safe, joyful space in our free OpenArts After School program, where art becomes a way to dream, heal, and belong. In our pottery studio, 45 dedicated members shaped more than just clay—they helped build a vibrant community through our Clay by the Bay Ceramic Guild.

We proudly supported 10 specialized groups, including preschoolers, students with special needs, adults with intellectual disabilities, and seniors—many of whom we've served for over 20 years. One of our teachers, Gabrielle, shared, "It is a privilege to teach in the outreach programs. My goal is to inspire confidence, and nurture individual creativity that encourages personal growth in our children to our elderly artists who have the power to inspire us all."

And while these numbers tell part of the story, the real magic lies in the moments you help create:

  • A child beaming as they saw their artwork on a gallery wall for the first time.
  • A senior who found comfort and connection in a pottery or art class after losing a spouse.
  • A young teen who used painting to express emotions they couldn't put into words. 

Your support also helps us deepen partnerships with the Mathews Family YMCA, Mathews County Memorial Library, Mathews County Cooperative Extension, and Coalition 4 Kids, bringing art into classrooms and after-school programs where it can reach those who need it most. Alongside community partners like the Mathews Visitor Information Center, Market Days, May Faire, Rotary Club, and Tour de Chesapeake, we help make Mathews not just a place where art exists—but where it thrives.

Together in 2024, we gave back. Through our Empty Bowls Fundraiser, we raised $15,557.15 for Hands Across Mathews, helping to fill both hearts and stomachs by fighting hunger here at home.

None of this would have been possible without you, and we're asking for your help for 2025.

With rising costs, your gift to this year's Annual Campaign goal of $50,000 ensures we can keep art alive, accessible, and impactful in Mathews. It supports scholarships for needy students and allows us to continue free outreach programs, purchase art supplies, mount exhibitions, and—most importantly—provide opportunities to dream big and create with heart.

We hope you'll consider making a gift today. Whether it's $25 or $2,500, your support makes all the difference. A monthly pledge would transform your donation into a sustaining gift.

You're not just funding programs; you're changing lives.

Your generosity already has moved us forward toward our goal with donations of $4,650 coming in early in the year and $11,545 raised during our summer fundraising drive for a current total of $16,195. Check back regularly to follow our progress toward our goal.

Want more detailed information that demonstrates the impact of your financial contribution on the people of our community? Download our 2024 Annual Report.

DONATE NOW TO OUR ANNUAL CAMPAIGN FUND

General Support Options

The following are other options for supporting our organization and its many programs:

  • Making an online contribution (We encourage you to consider becoming a monthly donor.) 
  • Sending a check to The Bay School Community Arts Center
  • Contributing from your IRA or other investments
  • Giving stock to our Davenport gift account by calling Jay Black at 804.435.7705.
  • Contributing to a donor-advised fund with the Mathews Community Foundation by calling 804.725.3454.

However, you choose to participate, you can be confident in knowing that your generous gift will positively impact our community by encouraging creativity for all in a safe and inclusive environment.

Thank you!