The Cook Foundation

The Cook Foundation is privately funded, 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1999, with a mission to nurture and sponsor the arts in Gloucester, Virginia. The Cook Foundation functions as a philanthropic, community-oriented organization. The Foundation has invested in the restoration of notable buildings in the community. Architecture is art; and the living space nourishes creativity and a sense of well-being. In addition, the foundation has gifted four murals located in the Courthouse area that each celebrate Gloucester’s shared culture and heritage. The Foundation also hosts the annual outdoor Virginia Symphony Orchestra performance, original theatre productions, provides scholarships and many other initiatives to enrich, benefit and diversify the art experience for everyone in the community. The Foundation created the Gloucester Arts Festival, a month-long celebration held each year in June. Acclaimed artists visit the community to share their expertise while creating works of art, including through the Foundation’s partnership with Arts on Main, where a robust Artist in Residence program convenes several times a year. By making Gloucester an art-friendly place, the Cook Foundation showcases our community as an interesting place to live – to the artists, to art collectors, and to businesses that appreciate a quality of life that cannot be found elsewhere. The Cook Foundation is also building an art collection for the benefit of the community. In 2024, the Foundation will celebrate 25 years of enhancing access and creation of exquisite visual and performing arts.