SALA | Zita Cobb

Cornelia Hahn Oberlander Lecture

Zita Cobb
Shorefast Foundation

Zita Cobb grew up on Fogo Island, a remote fishing community off the northeast coast of Newfoundland. Following a successful career the high technology industry, she retired in 2001 to pursue her personal goals and dedicated her energies to philanthropic work. She founded the Shorefast Foundation to contribute to a resilient and vibrant future for Fogo Island and Change Islands.

The foundation and its daughter organization, the Fogo Island Inn, are building on the culture and ecology of the islands to create a leading geo-tourism destination. Acting as agent for the Shorefast Foundation, Fogo Island Arts is bringing international attention to the islands by organizing projects involving leading artists and scholars working at the intersections of art, heritage, and social enterprise. Fogo Island Arts programs are a driving force in the creation of opportunities to learn and innovate while developing new ways of approaching business in rural communities.