The indefatigable Graham Grund, one of the city’s grandest arts patrons, stood at the helm of Access to the Arts for more than two decades. It was an organization she founded at age 70, using mostly volunteer students from the Cleveland Institute of Music to bring music and joy to the residents of nursing homes across Northeast Ohio. CIPC also was a partner in the program, coordinating performances by CIPC contestants at the start of each Competition.
With Ms. Grund’s passing last year, the program was searching for a new direction. Then Jeanne Hoffmeyer, Special Projects Consultant at the Golden Age Centers, and Martha Towns, a CIPC Board member, had a rather brilliant idea.
Thanks to their creative thinking, and a generous grant from The Cleveland Foundation, Access to the Arts has been incorporated into the programming of the Cleveland International Piano Competition and renamed ArtsConnect. Sophié van der Westhuizen, who served as Events Coordinator during the 2013 Competition, is Director.
“This is quite literally the most perfect fit possible,” said Pierre van der Westhizen, CIPC President and CEO. “Our organization had been searching for a meaningful way to become more integrated into the community and Access to the Arts is already well established. It’s also a program that we’ve been associated with for years.”
The program also has personal meaning for both Pierre and Sophié. As piano students in South Africa and the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati they performed extensively in nursing homes, hospices, and hospitals. It was an experience they found moving and uplifting.
“We are expanding the program to include a broader range of institutions so we can reach as many people as possible,” Sophié said. “At the same time we are expanding the roster of participating artists to include not just CIM students but professional musicians as well. We have been very gratified by the number of great artists – students and professional – who have agreed to participate.”
When at full capacity, ArtsConnect will provide arts programming in a wide range of underserved or limited-access communities, including all types of healthcare institutions, schools, and community organizations. Programming will expand to include performing and visual arts. A full calendar of events will be maintained on the CIPC website.
Organizations or musicians seeking more information should contact Sophié van der Westhuizen at [email protected]=.