Meet Linda Wise
Executive Director, Willoughby Fine Arts Association

Ask Linda Wise about what life is like at the Fine Arts Association in Willoughby and she'll tell you, "There's never a dull moment." Checking in with Cool Cleveland during the peak of the holiday season, the Executive Director is quick to point out that even despite the holidays, "We never really slow down here. Our annual fund and classes are winding down, but we're already looking to January." And with January upon us, we thought it wise to bring Linda and her organization's mission to the forefront as they move beyond their golden jubilee.

For over 50 years, The Fine Arts Association (which also operates the School of Fine Arts in Willoughby) has been a "gathering place" for individuals to learn, create, enjoy and appreciate the arts. Students of all ages and from all over Northeast Ohio and beyond come to learn everything from ballet and watercolor, to piano and theatre. The FAA serves thousands of students every year; Wise is responsible for the development, oversight and coordination of the properties, affairs and finances of the association.

It's a big job, but one she's familiar with -- having been a part of the FAA organization for many years, including as interim Director of Education. Wise holds an M.E. from Kent State University; and a B.M. from Miami University, has served as a member of the Board of Education of Solon City Schools for 19 years, 5 as president, and was formerly choir director of Solon United Methodist Church and assistant director and music instructor at Hawken Middle School. Obviously, music, students, family and the arts have been among her top priorities. Her staff is equally passionate about all of those subjects.

The FAA has been based on the east side for its entire 50-year lifespan, calling Willoughby home. Like many arts organizations, FAA is a private non-profit that relies on the passion and individual support of students, parents, alumni, patrons, funding and corporate donations to maintain their level of excellence. Contributions made to the group's annual fund, scholarship programs and endowments allow them to continue to bring the best performance and arts experiences.

As an arts education and performance provider, Wise sees the FAA as a "family-oriented place where people can take part in art, music, dance and theater classes – music being the largest portion – or participate in our performance program," she says. "Community theater constitutes a large portion of what we do as well. And we serve ages preschool thru adults, which is really exciting for us. We have an 84-year-old harpist here, and she is a lovely person. But we also have 2-year-olds taking dance and art lessons, too. We certainly have a wide range of people and diversity."

The FAA also has a growing music therapy program, which Wise says has grown over the last two years in size and scope. "We started that about 6-7 years ago," she adds. "We have doubled the size of that program recently and we are serving special needs individuals." The FAA is also looking to expand their educational outreach and "to expand more in school programming throughout the area because of reduction of arts programs in school systems," she says.

All this, and the FAA still has the time and staff to offer a full slate of family-friendly programming for the stage -- from live music and musical theater. With an outdoor stage donated by local construction company Marous Brothers, the FAA will look to expand their schedule of concerts and events starting with their 2008-2009 season. "The sky is the limit," Wise says.

"We like to think that the Fine Arts Association is an arts center that feels like home," she finalizes. "So many people say that about being here -- that it’s like coming home again. It's multigenerational. Many of our teachers were students here. It’s like a carrying on through generations. It’s a wonderful, exciting place for the arts, but it’s a home, like a community center that serves everybody."

Visit the Fine Arts Association online and explore the slate of educational and performance programming at http://www.fineartsassociation.org.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

Photo by Wanda Wareham
(:divend:)