Our History
Celebrating the Rich History of the Louisa Arts Center
Laying the Foundation of Historical Legacy
1907-1924
In Louisa County, Virginia, this notable 1 ½ story granite ashlar stone building, was designed by renowned Richmond architect Charles M. Robinson to serve as a high school.
Before his time in Richmond, Robinson worked in Altoona and Pittsburgh PA, but is best known as a prolific designer of educational buildings in Virginia – public schools in Richmond and throughout the Commonwealth, as well as buildings for James Madison University, College of William and Mary, Radford University, Virginia State University, and the University of Richmond. Many of his works are listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.
The Louisa Court House High School, as it was referred to at that time, served grades one through eleven. It was the first education institution in the Commonwealth that used state matching funds under the ‘1906 Mann High School Act’ to establish and maintain a system of public schooling dedicated to free public education.
The building architecturally expresses progressive era principles of the modern school. Large windows light eight classrooms, four on each floor. A central stair is well lit from the door and window in the central bays of the first and second floors. Well placed on its lot, the school was surrounded by land for recreation and organized games. With its auditorium annex, the school could be a center for community activities and programs.
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.
The second story and the auditorium were added 3 years later.
Building sits vacant from 1987-2002.
The Purcell Art Gallery displays its first exhibit.
Cooke-Haley Theater, Art Studio, Box Office, and Kitchen restoration are completed.
Summer Arts Camps are created.
Adult and Youth Art Classes are created.
First Silver Tie Gala is held.
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.
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.
The Louisa Arts Center had to close its doors during this period due to the worldwide COVID pandemic.
Cultural Sundays programming begins to bring unique and varied cultural experiences to our Cooke-Haley Theater stage.
Shakespeare plays performed by a theatre group to bring more live theatre cultural performances to our region.
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.
