Our History
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Louisa High School was the first occupant of our building back in 1907. The one-and-a-half story building was designed by Charles A. Robinson, architect out of Richmond. It was built by Louisa contractor Robert E. Leigh.
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The second story and the auditorium were added 3 years later.
After a fire gutted the main floor in 1924, the building was rebuilt. The auditorium was spared in the fire.
When three county high schools consolidated and moved near Mineral, the Louisa Elementary because the new occupants of our historic building.
Cafeteria and more classrooms added to the building.
Louisa Elementary School closes.
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Building sits vacant from 1987-2002.
School and four other buildings on 12.4 acres purchased by Town of Louisa from William Pettit
The annex (cafeteria and extra classrooms) is demolished.
Building is renamed Louisa Town Hall and Arts Center and listed on Virginia Landmark Register.
Louisa Downtown Development Corporation (LDDC) formed to bring arts, cultural, and recreational activities to Louisa and to raise funds to restore the theater, two upstairs classrooms, and build the art gallery.
Groundbreaking for Town Hall portion of the building. Construction cost of $1.8 million paid for by the Town of Louisa. Construction included restoration of first floor and exterior including theater exterior and roof.
Groundbreaking for Art Gallery and Theater interior and addition of green rooms. Cost estimate came in at $1.6 million.
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The Purcell Art Gallery displays its first exhibit.
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Cooke-Haley Theater, Art Studio, Box Office, and Kitchen restoration are completed.
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Summer Arts Camps are created.
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Adult and Youth Art Classes are created.
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First Silver Tie Gala is held.
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The LaVahn and Mary Frances Hoh Scholarship Fund is created to ensure all children interested in the arts can participate in our youth programs, regardless of their financial situation.
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After-school arts programs are formed for youth in our community. Louisa Theatre Works, Broadway Dance Works, and Art Lab were among our first after-school programs.
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The Louisa Arts Center had to close its doors during this period due to the worldwide COVID pandemic.
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Cultural Sundays programming begins to bring unique and varied cultural experiences to our Cooke-Haley Theater stage.
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Shakespeare plays performed by a theatre group to bring more live theatre cultural performances to our region.
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The Mobile Arts Outreach Program will partner with Louisa County Public Schools to bring art programming and free meals to under-served youth in our community.
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Louisa Players Live! brings the opportunity to take the stage (or work behind the scenes!) bringing live theater performances back to the Louisa Arts Center.