To provide a home for the surrounding community to engage with the arts.
core values and hisory
Our Values Statement
Windmore Center for the Arts is organized around 5 Core Values that drive our decision-making and the direction of our programs. This ensures accountability and transparency to our sponsors, donors, and members.
Creativity - We believe that creativity is the spark of all artistic expression
Accessibility - We have an obligation to provide access to the arts for the entire community
Education - Cultivating skills in the arts provides the foundation for social and intellectual growth
Diversity - Whether you are actively participating as an artist or as a patron, the arts engage the body and mind
Participation - The best expressions of art come from a multitude of experiences and backgrounds. Windmore embraces Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access {IDEA}
Our History
Windmore was founded in the spring of 1984 as the Culpeper Chapter of the Virginia Museum. In 1988, members and the board of directors voted to rename the organization Windmore Foundation for the Arts, Inc., reflecting its growing identity as a champion for local creativity. The name “Windmore” honored a dairy farm that once stood on the site of the organization’s original amphitheater—an early symbol of how Windmore would help cultivate the arts in our community.
In August 2024, Windmore took a bold step forward by leasing and renovating the historic State Theater auditorium—transforming it into a vibrant performance and education space. This move solidified Windmore’s physical home and expanded its capacity to serve artists, students, and audiences year-round.
In April 2025, the board and membership unanimously approved a name change to Windmore Center for the Arts, Inc. As part of this transition, the organization adopted a new set of bylaws and restructured its programming to reflect its expanded vision, updated governance, and evolving role as a comprehensive arts organization serving the Northern Piedmont region.
Windmore Center for the Arts proudly serves the Northern Piedmont region, including Culpeper, Fauquier, Rappahannock, Orange, and Madison counties. Our programs in theatrical arts, music, visual arts, and literary arts provide opportunities for artists, students, and audiences to explore, create, and experience the arts throughout the year.
Guided by our history and mission, Windmore is dedicated to making the arts accessible, welcoming, and meaningful to everyone in the community.
Painting of the Windmore Farm Barn by Mille Lane is from the collection of Mike Markley.
