Community Partners

Expanding access and experiences through all the arts - inspiring community and conversations.

What does it mean to partner with the Cook Foundation?

The Cook Foundation engages with art and cultural institutions that share our commitment to bringing the arts to all.

The Cook Foundation’s success is bolstered by its collaborations and partnerships with other organizations which have significantly expanded its reach and impact. By working closely with esteemed institutions such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Chrysler Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and the Seward Johnson Foundation, the Foundation has been able to bring diverse and high-quality artistic experiences to Gloucester. These partnerships have facilitated a variety of exhibitions and educational programs, allowing the local community to engage with a broad spectrum of artistic styles. During our Artist in Residence program, launched in collaboration with Arts on Main, we invited acclaimed artists to Gloucester, providing them with the opportunity to create and showcase their work while enriching the community with their creativity and expertise. These artists not only produce unique pieces but also conduct workshops and lectures, fostering a vibrant cultural dialogue and inspiring both emerging and established artists in the area.

Through these strategic partnerships and innovative programs, the Cook Foundation continues to enhance the cultural landscape of Gloucester, making the arts accessible and engaging for all residents, while simultaneously promoting tourism to attract visitors to our scenic landscapes and charming Main Street.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

VMFA’s new state-of-the-art traveling museum and art studio, VMFA on the Road, launched in October 2018. Since then, it has traveled to all corners of Virginia, providing an opportunity for residents of the Commonwealth to see and experience works of art from the VMFA collection up close.

Over 2800 visitors enjoyed the fine art from VMFA on the road here in Gloucester. The art mobile was in Gloucester twice in 2019, first for the Daffodil Festival and then it returned for the Gloucester Arts Festival. We are proud to announce it will return in June 2022 for the Gloucester Arts Festival!

VMFA on the Road: An Artmobile for the 21st Century is coming to a location near you with a new exhibition, Revealing and Obscuring Identity: Portraits from the Permanent Collection. This exciting exhibition of paintings, photographs, and prints explores portraiture through a variety of periods, cultures, and styles.

Throughout history, traditional portraits have typically portrayed the sitter’s wealth, power, attractiveness, and intelligence. Over time, the genre has become more expressive. Many of the works in this exhibition explore themes about the nature of art, the perception of beauty, and the cultural influences on identity. Visitors to Revealing and Obscuring Identity: Portraits from the Permanent Collection will experience the shift in portraiture over the decades.

Diverse works by more than ten artists, including Kitagawa Utamaro (Japan), Gordon Stettinius (American), André L’Hote (French), and S. Ross Browne (American), are featured in the exhibition.

About VMFA on the Road

In 1953, VMFA became one of the first museums in the world to have an Artmobile. For four decades, as many as four Artmobiles toured 59 exhibitions and served more than 2.5 million Virginians. Due to conservation concerns and the fragility of traveling works of art, VMFA replaced the program in the early 1990s with a strategy to develop stronger partnerships with schools, community centers, and museums around the state.

VMFA relaunched its state-of-the-art traveling museum and art studio called VMFA on the Road in October 2018. The climate-controlled 53-foot Volvo trailer includes Wi-Fi to connect visitors with VMFA educators and interactive components to meet their 21st-century expectations. The main attraction of VMFA on the Road, however, is the opportunity for residents of the Commonwealth to see and experience authentic works of art from VMFA’s collection up close. VMFA on the Road is traveling to remote corners of Virginia by way of the museum’s Statewide Partners program, which includes 1,000 locations — from community centers and small museums to colleges and universities.

“We are very grateful for the Cook Foundation’s support of VMFA on the Road, our re-imagined Artmobile for the 21st Century. With their investment, the Cook Foundation continues to nurture the arts in Gloucester while advancing the efforts of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to enrich the lives of all Virginians through the arts. This is the best form of partnership-one that furthers the missions of both organizations while serving a public good.”

— Alex Nyerges, Director

The Woodville Rosenwald School Foundation

Woodville Rosenwald School, a significant historical site, has also been a beneficiary of the Cook Foundation’s efforts. The Foundation’s support has been crucial in preserving this landmark, which serves as a testament to the educational advancements for African Americans in the early 20th century. The restoration of the school highlights the Foundation’s commitment to preserving and celebrating Gloucester’s diverse cultural heritage.

“The Cook Foundation’s challenge grant was instrumental in completing the Woodville Rosenwald School Foundation’s interior and sparked the generosity of the Gloucester community.”

— Woodville Rosenwald School Foundation

Fairfield Foundation

THE CAPE (The Center for Archeology, Preservation & Education) The Cook Foundation’s support initiated the restoration and perpetual preservation of J. C. “Capt. Jack” Brown’s Edge Hill Service Station. Through the Cook Foundation’s transformative gift, we restored the 1930s landmark into a center for archaeology, preservation and education, providing hands-on learning opportunities for the community. Since opening in 2018, the CAPE has hosted dozens of events including speakers series, artifact washing days, and anchored events on Main Street for Christmas, Halloween, and the Daffodil Festival.

“It means everything to know that you’re not alone. The Cook Foundation gave us the confidence to dream big, take risks, and make a difference in our community.”

— Dave Brown

Arts on Main

The Cook Foundation has been a strong advocate of our local gallery “Arts on Main” since its inception. Through major gifts including challenge grants and renovationfunding during COVID, we have steadfastly supported Arts on Main and helped it mature from a volunteer lead start-up organization to a thriving art center serving our community with exhibits, performances, classes, and a place for arts to flourish.

“The Cook Foundation’s support was vital in transforming Arts on Main into a thriving community arts center and enabling its expansion. Their continued sponsorship helps Arts on Main bring art to schools, senior centers, and the broader community”

— Hugh Bryan, Past Chair, Arts on Main

Support the arts in Gloucester, Virginia.

“Art is one of those few things that has many, many functions in a community. It is often a way to get people to pause and reflect on their lives and the lives of others and what’s important and what is meaningful.”

– Adrianne Ryder-Cook Joseph