Many in the Parkersburg area desired to see the establishment of an art museum that would provide a series of programs, exhibits, and educational opportunities to the public. In 1973, Eloise Summers established a fund at the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation in hopes of creating such a facility. The Parkersburg Art Center Trust Fund was created to benefit the Parkersburg Art Center in its efforts to finance a new art museum. The Parkersburg Art Center is a non-profit organization that promotes the cultural and educational aspects that art brings to a community.
The original purpose of this fund is to support the programming and planning of the operation of an art museum in Wood County, West Virginia, which includes museum functions such as acquisition, conservation, research, education and exhibitions. Today, the fund continues to provide annual support to the Parkersburg Art Center to support the organization's programs.
