The main purpose of the new Sidney Cooper Arts Trust is to re-open the Sidney Cooper building as an Arts Centre. But we also want to celebrate Sidney Cooper’s philanthropic and artistic legacy to Canterbury.
The Trust is publishing a book by Sidney Cooper expert Dr Darren Henley CBE, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of England, in November 2025. Separated, but not Divorced reappraises the life and artistic legacy of Sidney Cooper and argues that, though this style of Victorian landscape painting is no longer in vogue, his work deserves greater recognition.
This beautiful hardback art book, with 36 full colour illustrations, will be available at The Beaney Museum on Canterbury High Street, Waterstones in Canterbury and the CCCU campus bookshop.
Sidney Cooper Arts Trust is working with the University for the Creative Arts, the direct descendant of Cooper’s original School of Art, on a programme to celebrate Cooper’s legacy in the field of landscape painting
Sidney Cooper Arts Trust is working with The Beaney on an archive project that could bring together the disparate holdings of Cooper work and effects held by his family, Cooper collectors and experts, The Beaney, the University for the Creative Arts and Canterbury Christ Church University.
Sidney Cooper Arts Trust is talking at events around the city about the artist, including at The Canterbury Society AGM, The Horsebridge Centre Whitstable (March 4th 2026) and other community groups.
Sidney Cooper Arts Trust is making a submission to the Canterbury Commemoration Society to erect a blue plaque to Sidney Cooper outside his birthplace – the house on St Peter’s Street that adjoins the old Gallery building. This would complement the existing blue plaque at Vernon Holme, the house Cooper built at Harbledown (and currently the home of Kent College Junior School).
‘Separated, but not Divorced’ – the artistic life and times of Thomas Sidney Cooper’ by Dr Darren Henley, due to be published in November 2025. Publisher: The Sidney Cooper Research Group, Canterbury. ISBN 978-1-9192746-0-7. The book will be available to purchase for £19.99 at The Beaney and other outlets to be announced.
Alison Coles, Vice-Chair, has given a number of talks on the life and work of Sidney Cooper, including to the Canterbuy Society. If you are interested in arranging a talk for your group please contact Alison on alisonc@sidneycooperarts.org. The book will be available to purchase from The Beaney Museum, Waterstones in Canterbury and the Canterbury Christ Church University bookshop.
Contact us to find out more or tell us what you’d like to see in the new Arts Centre.