A new charity, the Sidney Cooper Arts Trust, has been established in Kent with a mission to celebrate and support the arts in Canterbury and the legacy of Canterbury born artist Thomas Sidney Cooper.
Formally registered in late 2025, the Trust was created to promote and advance the arts for public benefit, with a focus on education, participation and access for people of all ages. Its long-term ambitions include creating a dedicated arts space in Canterbury and supporting young artists.
At the heart of the Trust is a commitment to the legacy of Thomas Sidney Cooper – one of Canterbury’s most significant cultural figures. Born into poverty, Cooper rose to become a celebrated Victorian artist and philanthropist. He founded a pioneering art school in the city in 1868, providing free art classes to young people who would otherwise not have had the opportunity.
Sandra Matthews-Marsh MBE, Chair of the Sidney Cooper Arts Trust, said:
“Sidney Cooper believed that art should be open to everyone, not just a privileged few – and that belief still feels incredibly relevant today. Through the Trust, we have an opportunity not only to celebrate his legacy, but to build something meaningful for Canterbury’s future: a place where creativity, education and community come together in a way that reflects both the city’s heritage and its potential.”
As part of its work to raise awareness of Cooper’s life and impact, the Trust has just published a new book on Sidney Cooper by Dr Darren Henley. ‘Separated, but not Divorced: the artistic life and times of Thomas Sidney Cooper’ offers a fresh perspective on Cooper’s work and legacy, and bringing his fascinating life story to new audiences.
Further plans to recognise Cooper’s importance to the city are also underway. These include the installation of a commemorative blue plaque on the historic Sidney Cooper building on St Peter’s Street in Canterbury city centre and a project with The Beaney Museum in Canterbury (which holds the Sidney Cooper paintings collection) and the University for the Creative Arts in Canterbury to bring Cooper’s scattered archive together. The Trust will also be bidding to the Council to take on the currently empty Sidney Cooper building and turn it into an arts centre for the community.
This reflects a wider vision to see the building once again fulfil the purpose Cooper originally intended: a place for creativity, learning and opportunity at the heart of the city – an aim supported by his living descendants who are playing an active role on the Trust.
To find out more about the work of the Trust, the book and future plans visit www.sidneycooperarts.org