BAYarts Sensory Garden Coming Soon

BAYarts is excited to announce that the sensory garden planned for our campus will be a reality in the coming months.
Thanks to grants from the Ohio Arts Council, the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Bay Village Foundation, and generous individual donations, we will be able to realize our goal of breaking ground in the spring. The garden was planned with the help of the Cleveland Metroparks Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specialists and a focus group comprised of our staff, board members, and members of the Bay Village City School District. Individuals with disabilities were also part of the focus group. Ground Works Land Design will partner with us on the project, bringing their resources and expertise to all aspects of its design and implementation.

The BAYarts Sensory Garden will be an innovative outdoor classroom and gathering space that focuses on the senses: sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. The garden will be available to visitors of all ages and abilities. BAYarts is deeply committed to making our facilities accessible to all. Through funding in part provided by the Ohio Arts Council, our staff members have attended LEAD® (Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability) Conferences in Atlanta, Boston, and Denver, collaborating with the disabled community and other nonprofit organizations to evaluate and create ADA improvements campus-wide, and to develop the plan for the garden.

According to Executive Director Beth Milli, the mission of BAYarts is to “cultivate a welcoming and inclusive oasis where the beauty of nature is observed, felt, heard, and savored by everyone. Our organization is committed to creating an environment that engages and delights the senses, fostering a deep connection between individuals and the natural world.”

Founded in 1948, BAYarts has been providing inspirational cultural experiences for generations and is one of only twelve nonprofit organizations within the Metroparks system. We have worked closely with the Metroparks and an ADA specialist to plan special details in the garden’s design, including a water feature, outdoor easels, sculpture, and much more.
If you would like to help with funding this project, there are many opportunities to give. Please visit bayarts.net/garden/ for more information.

BAYARTS
28795 Lake Road
Bay Village, Ohio 44140
BAYarts.net
440.871.6543

EVENTS:
Annual Juried Exhibition, March 14–April 5
From Woman 18, curated by Mary Urbas, March 14–April 13
Jennifer Fitchwell, Favorite Places: Landscapes, Still Lifes And Flowers, April 11–May 3
Women Who Rock: Curated Exhibition by Anastasia Pantsios: April 19–June 3
Annual Advanced Student Ceramic Exhibition, May 9