Securing a future for the sculpture garden

THE award-winning sculpture garden in Alfaz del Pi remains a delightful place to visit, but now the mission is to guarantee its future.

The Klein-Schreuder Foundation runs the Sculpture Garden but founders Johannes Klein and Johanna Schreuder are seeking a permanent hand on the tiller to ensure the gardens, its permanent collection of sculpture, and visiting exhibitions – sadly, missed during the covid pandemic – continue.

Alfaz town hall recognised the importance of the gardens and their art two weeks ago with the award of the Premi L’Alfas 2021 in recognition of the couple’s promotion of both art and the environment.

Johannes and Johanna, who bought 20,000m2 of aging orange groves in Camino del Pinar, Cautivador, in 1996, built a home and created the gardens. The 20th anniversary of the sculpture garden was celebrated in April 2019.

Visitors can discover a double delight – the artwork scattered around the gardens and a wonderful selection of plants that make them such an enchanting place.

Johanna told CBN they now wanted to guarantee a lasting legacy. “We have started to make sure the garden will survive when we have gone – of course no one knows when that will be.”

She admitted they were attempting to seduce the Alfaz council itself. “We want to pressure the town hall a little bit over this.”

Johannes added: “We opened the gate, that was our contribution. Now it needs someone to take over to guard the future.”

They hope visiting exhibitions can return soon, the first could be in September or October; they ended when Covid-19 struck.

Johannes said the permanent exhibition and the gardens remained open. “We have never been closed; maintaining social distancing of 1.5m is not a problem; people can distance by 100m if they want to!”

However, Johanna said they understood people wanted to be careful. “They don’t want to have problems.”

The foundation has two gardeners working every Saturday for five hours to keep the gardens trim – aided by the couple and a team of volunteers.

“Anyone who is prepared to help us will be made quite welcome; it’s hard work but very rewarding,” said Johanna.

The gardens are open to the public on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 10.00-14.00 and by prior appointment by phone or email on weekdays. There is an entrance fee of €5 which helps pay for the upkeep of the attraction.

Visit www.kelein-schreuder.com for more information. Email info@klein-schreuder.com or call 96 686 02 30.