When Adrianne Ryder-Cook Joseph first came to Gloucester, Virginia, she was awestruck by the rural county’s natural environment – its riverscape and landscapes.

“It’s all just breathtaking,” she said.

Yet despite the county’s inspiring beauty, few cultural offerings existed at that time in Gloucester. To find art festivals, symphonies, art galleries, murals, or art museums, residents had to travel to other communities such as Richmond or Norfolk. But it was hard to find it right at home in this community so rich with inspiration.

Enter the Cook Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit, privately funded organization founded in 1999, with a mission to nurture and sponsor the arts in Gloucester, Virginia. In its first two decades the philanthropic, community-oriented, foundation has enabled the fruition of the artistic dreams of myriad creative individuals and groups.

It has brought an annual outdoor Virginia Symphony performance, the Beehive Project, Main Street Flower Baskets, Chalkfest, original theatre productions, scholarships and many other initiatives to enrich, benefit and diversify the art experience for everyone in the community.

In addition, the foundation has gifted three murals located in the Courthouse area that each celebrate Gloucester’s shared culture and heritage.

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.