Faces of DePauw

The Unifying Power of Art

“Art is a great place to start a conversation,” says Gerard Pannekoek ’11. “It’s a place to build trust and collaborate – an area where you can create a low barrier to entry for folks to participate, engage and come together.”

Pannekoek knows this from first-hand experience. In his work as program coordinator with the Indiana University Arts and Humanities Council as well as chair of the Bloomington Arts Commission, Pannekoek witnesses the unifying power of the arts on a regular basis. 

“I see my job as presenting opportunities for folks to showcase and enhance their artistic work,” he explains. “I find a lot of value and fulfillment in creating community around arts and humanities events.”

Pannekoek plays an instrumental role in two pillars of the Bloomington arts scene: the First Thursdays Festival, a monthly showcase of creative talent throughout the community, and Granfalloon, a Kurt Vonnegut-inspired celebration of artistic expression in its many different forms. In both instances, he has the privilege of bringing people together from diverse backgrounds and amplifying their creative voices.

“Art can be what you make of it,” he argues. “You can treat it as entertainment – something to enjoy and engage with at a surface level – but if you dig into it, you find it’s a critical piece of the fabric of our different communities.”

Pannekoek’s journey as a curator of connection has been a long time in the making. Studying English writing at DePauw was no small part of it. 

“I’ve ended up where I am now because I have a degree in a creative field,” he says. “That signals to folks that I’ve taken creativity seriously. It emphasizes a foundation in creative thinking, creative communication skills and creative problem solving.”

For Pannekoek, that mindset extended outside the classroom, as well: writing for the student newspaper, working on radio shows, participating in theatrical productions, taking a Winter Term course on filmmaking, helping start a sketch comedy group, and even writing and recording an EP – a skill he still puts to good use as an active contributor to multiple musical projects in the Bloomington area.

“DePauw was full of creative people who wanted to do interesting stuff,” he recalls. Pannekoek found his place among them, and it continues to inspire his daily work.

“I often see folks devalue the arts,” laments Pannekoek, “but if you look holistically, the arts and humanities play an important part in a community’s dynamic.”