Creative Well Arts Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by artists Monica Turley and Tessa Hall Duquette, has opened its first gallery in Virginia Beach. Located in the former 17th Street Marketplace space at the corner of Mediterranean Avenue and Virginia Beach Boulevard, the 2,500-square-foot facility includes five artist studios, a rotating art gallery, and a multi-use classroom focused on therapeutic arts education and community connection. The foundation was established through donors, grants, and tax-deductible donations, and its inaugural exhibition, “Where is the Color: A Solo Exhibition by DKANE,” is scheduled for August 8.
This opening matters because it provides a dedicated physical hub for local artists in Virginia Beach to create, exhibit, and connect with the community, while emphasizing therapeutic arts education—a growing area of interest in the art world. By offering studio space, exhibition opportunities, and educational programming, the foundation fills a gap in the region’s cultural infrastructure and supports both emerging and established artists in a collaborative environment.