The Oxbow School Gifts Campus to Napa Valley Education Foundation
Napa, CA – April 30, 2025 - The Oxbow School is pleased to announce that its campus, including its studios, dorms, dining hall, and office, will be gifted to the Napa Valley Education Foundation (NVEF) following the school's previously announced closure last August. This transition ensures that Oxbow’s legacy of creativity, learning, and community engagement will continue to thrive in Napa Valley.
Over many months, a subcommittee of the Board of Trustees carefully considered several potential recipients, seeking ones that shared its values as a nonprofit institution and had a demonstrated commitment to arts education and academic excellence. The Board sought an organization that would honor the vision of the school's founders, Ann Hatch, Robert and Margrit Mondavi, whose dedication to arts education and the creative development of young people laid the foundation for Oxbow’s mission.
“For more than two decades, The Oxbow School has provided an immersive and transformative educational experience for young artists,” said Beth Karpfinger, Chair, Board of Trustees of The Oxbow School. “We are proud to pass this campus to an organization that shares our commitment to creativity and education. The Napa Valley Education Foundation is uniquely positioned to build upon Oxbow’s legacy and ensure the campus continues to serve students and the Napa community. In gifting the campus to the Napa Valley Education Foundation, the Board is confident that this legacy will continue to thrive and serve future generations.”
The Napa Valley Education Foundation, an education-focused nonprofit, has long inspired and supported public school students in Napa Valley.
"We are honored to carry forward the legacy of The Oxbow School campus and its deep commitment to arts education," said Jennifer Stewart, Executive Director of the Napa Valley Education Foundation. "This gift ensures that the campus remains a place of creativity, learning, and inspiration for future generations. We look forward to building upon Oxbow’s incredible foundation and continuing to serve students and the broader community in meaningful ways."
The transaction will close in early May. More details on the transition and future programming at the campus will be shared by NVEF in the coming months.
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About The Oxbow School
The Oxbow School was the nation’s only art-focused semester boarding program for high school students, offering a transformative educational experience that combined immersive studio art practice with rigorous academics. The school provided a space where students explored creativity, critical thinking, and self-discovery in a supportive, interdisciplinary environment. For additional information, please visit www.oxbowschool.org.
