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Virginia Living Magazine's

Best of Virginia 2025





Starting January 2, 2025, and running until midnight January 31, you can show your support for your favorites across regions and categories throughout the state of Virginia. Results will be published in the May edition of Virginia Living.




We won Best of awards in 2022 and 2023, and you can help us earn some bragging rights for 2025. We're pleased to be competing in several categories in the Eastern Region, and we'd appreciate your support. Here are categories you either can find us listed in or we'd love you to write us in as noted:




  • Annual Charity Event: Bay School Annual Fine Arts Auction, Mathews
  • Art Gallery: Bay School Community Arts Center, Mathews
  • Art Event: Art Speaks Juried Exhibition, Mathews
  • Festival: The Bay School Family Art Festival, Mathews (please write in your vote)
  • Summer Camp: The Bay School Summer Art Camps, Mathews (please write in your vote)



Access Virginia Living's Reader Survey and Start Voting


Coastal Living Magazine's 2025 Best

of Reader's Choice Awards



Starting January 3, 2025, and running until midnight March 7, you can vote across a variety of categories. Results will be published in the July/August 2025 edition of Coastal Virginia Magazine.

The Bay School and Art Speaks Gallery are not listed in this competition, so your write-in votes would be appreciated in the following categories:

Under Arts & Entertainment Category

  • Best Art Gallery: Art Speaks Gallery at The Bay School (please write in your vote)

Under Education Category

  • Best Summer Camp: Bay School Community Art Center Summer Art Camps

Please note: Write-in votes are only accepted until February 2. Then the list will be updated to reflect write-ins. If enough individuals write us in, we'll be listed after February 2.


Access Coastal Virginia's Best of 2025 Contest and begin voting!


THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!


Crafted in Clay

January 17-February 1




Join us in the gallery for Crafted in Clay!



Crafted in Clay is a yearly pop-up pottery event, from Jan. 17th- Feb.1. Shop for unique, decorative and functional pottery. Pottery pricing will range from full price to sale and seconds pricing.

New Work from Photographer

Sue Maida




As the Gallery reopens Monday, January 13th new work can be found from some of our favorite artists, such as photographer

Sue Maida.


Sue has been an accepted Art Speaks Juried Exhibition artist several times.

Purchase Tickets for the

Chili Cook Off!!


Feb 8: Rotary Club of Mathews

Annual Chili Cook-Off


Come support a good cause and have some spicy fare on Super Bowl Saturday, February 8 from 4:30-7:00 PM. This will be the Rotary Club of Mathews' 9th year for sponsoring this festive occasion that raises money to improve the lives of Mathew's citizens. The event will be at the Piankatank Ruritan Club Building, 7138 Buckley Hall Road, in Hudgins, VA 23076.

The Bay School will be there defending our award-winning chili, having won the Judges' Choice Award last year. We'll also be competing for People's Choice for Best Chili in Mathews ($200 prize) and Best Decorated Booth ($100 prize) this year, both of which are based on attendees' votes, so remember to vote at the cookoff! 


Take-out orders will be available for purchase at the door and each booth will have quarts available for sale after 6:00 PM. Tickets are available for $20 each at The Bay School, so stop by the Art Speaks Gallery at The Bay School to buy your tickets or get them online. The organization that sells the most tickets wins $100, so come on by and pick up your tickets here.



Hope to see you there!




Class Registration

Available Online!

Felted Owl with Mini Grapevine Wreath

Jennifer Schroeder

Tuesday, Jan 28 6pm - 8:30pm

Beginner Wheel Throwing

Brenda Mahoney

multiple sessions to choose from


Are you ready to sign up for one of our classes? You can now view and register for classes.



Let us know if you need a class catalog here.

 

Classes at The Bay School are responsive to teacher and student needs.



MEMBERSHIP! Members will receive discounted tuition on all classes. See more information here.



Upcoming Events!

Jan 17-Feb 1: Crafted in Clay

Jan 31- Feb 24: Fantastic Fiber, (Reception Jan 31, 5-7 pm)

Feb 8: Mathews Rotary Club Chili Cook-Off

Feb 22: Upcycled Fashion Show

Feb 23: Portuguese Progressive Dinner

Feb 28-Mar 24: Idioms in Art. (Reception Feb 28, 5-7 pm)

Gift certificates make great gifts! They can be purchased in any amount and may be used in the gallery or for classes. Paper gift certificates can be purchased online and mailed.

You can also buy online gift cards for online gallery shopping here.


Call for Entries:

2025 Art Speaks Juried Exhibition


We are excited to announce the 2025 Art Speaks Juried Exhibition prospectus is now available for download.


The show is open to any artist living or working in Virginia, 18 or older. Both 2D and 3D media are eligible, and $6,350 in prize money is available for award. This year's juror and judge is Diego Sanchez. 

Online submission of entries will begin December 1, 2024. Submit application and artwork here.



The exhibition will be on display April 26-May 26, 2025, with the opening reception and awards ceremony on April 26.  



Help raise money for The Bay School by shopping with Brent and Becky's! Visit www.bloominbucks.com and select The Bay School, and we will earn 25% of the sale. You can also order by phone but be sure to say you want to support The Bay School.

Did you know that we have a Membership Program?


All memberships are for the whole family! With your membership you get the ability to purchase event tickets first, discounts on class tuition, and much more! There are several membership levels from which to choose.

A new membership structure has rolled out. Check it out here, and stay tuned for new perks coming in the new year!


***If you have a child in school, your family is eligible for the Young Creators membership. This will give you first chance to register for our kids' classes!

You can purchase your membership on our registration website by clicking here. 


Please allow 48 hours for us to process your membership.


Your membership helps us sustain and grow our mission to provide people of all ages and abilities opportunities to learn, experience, and appreciate the arts. Thank you!




We could not do everything that we do without our volunteers. Thank you for your time and dedication!



Would you like to become a Bay School volunteer?






Contact us if you would like to become a

Bay School BayBee.


Thank you to our 2024 gallery event sponsors!


Roane's Antiques at the Cottage

Storybound Construction

Tri-River Investment Group with Davenport & Company, LLC 

Robert and Amy Chase


Let us know if you want to sponsor a

2025 exhibition or event!


Our Jan - June 2025 classes are available online! Check them out Here



Click the catalog image to download a PDF of our new catalog.

Art Speaks Gallery at the Bay School Community Arts Center


279 Main Street

Mathews, Virginia


Gallery Hours

Monday - Wednesday

10am - 4:00pm

Thursday and Friday

10am- 5:00pm

Saturday

10am-4:00pm

The Bay School is supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Mathews County, and Dominion Energy.
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