With Support from the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Youth Arts Programs Flourish, Expanding Creative Opportunities for More Than 200 Students
Creativity, confidence, and community took center stage this summer as the Lake Wales Arts Council (LWAC) celebrated an extraordinary season of growth and artistic discovery. With the support of The Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, the Council expanded its youth arts education programs, providing more young people with opportunities to explore their talents, develop new skills, and experience the transformative power of the arts.
The results were remarkable!
During the summer of 2026, 193 children participated in Summer Arts Camp—a 41% increase over the previous year's enrollment of 137 students. An additional 14 teenagers participated in Studio 60, an intensive visual arts program designed to nurture emerging young artists. Together, these programs served 207 young people, exceeding the Council's original goal of approximately 150 participants.
More than impressive numbers, this growth reflects a thriving community of young artists eager to learn, create, and express themselves.
Where Creativity and Confidence Flourish
At Summer Arts Camp, students enjoyed hands-on instruction from professional teaching artists, explored a variety of artistic disciplines, experimented with new materials, and brought their creative visions to life.
Beyond developing artistic skills, participants gained confidence, strengthened their creative problem-solving abilities, formed friendships, and discovered the joy of expressing themselves through art.
For many children, the experience introduced them to artistic opportunities they might not otherwise have encountered, opening doors to new interests and possibilities.
The Council's commitment to accessibility was equally important to the program's success. Through scholarships, reduced-cost opportunities, and a continued partnership with Hillcrest Elementary, LWAC helped ensure that financial circumstances would not prevent young people from participating in meaningful arts education.
Nurturing the Next Generation of Artists
Building on the success of Summer Arts Camp, Studio 60 provided 14 teenagers with an opportunity to take their artistic development to the next level.
Designed for students seeking a more immersive visual arts experience, Studio 60 offered focused instruction and opportunities for creative exploration. In a smaller community like Lake Wales, where specialized arts education opportunities for teenagers can be limited, the program serves as an important bridge between introductory arts experiences and more advanced artistic study.
Together, these complementary programs are helping establish a pathway for young artists to discover their passions and continue developing their talents as they grow.
A Growing Program with a Bright Future
The tremendous increase in participation also demonstrated the community's growing demand for high-quality summer arts education.
Although the expansion required additional teaching artists, supplies, scholarships, and classroom resources, the Lake Wales Arts Council embraced the challenge, working alongside instructors, families, schools, and community partners to welcome more students while preserving the quality of instruction.
Looking ahead, LWAC plans to build on this momentum by strengthening Studio 60, expanding opportunities through its year-round youth arts programming, and continuing to prioritize scholarships and accessibility.
Investing in Creativity, Inspiring Possibilities
The Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation is proud to have supported this outstanding initiative and the Lake Wales Arts Council's commitment to making arts education accessible to young people throughout its community.
The Foundation's grant helped support a season of exceptional growth, meaningful learning experiences, and artistic achievement.
With 207 young people served and Summer Arts Camp participation increasing by 41%, the success of these programs demonstrates the remarkable impact that investment in arts education can have on a community.
The Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation congratulates the Lake Wales Arts Council on an exceptional summer and looks forward to seeing the creativity, confidence, and artistic potential of these young people continue to flourish.
