A year in Paradise– Polishing the gem

a year in paradise:

POlishing The gem

The past year has brought many changes to the ing the Paradise all on a shoestring budget thanks to generous donaParadise Center for the Arts and we are proud tions of talent and treasure. It was a joy to open again for our first of the progress we have made! post-pandemic gallery exhibition on June 12, 2020 utilizing Facebook In October of 2019, the former executive Live and Zoom to engage with our patrons and artists who didn’t feel director left, comfortable coming to see us in person. and for the Since June we have been open Thursday through Saturday from next six noon to 5 p.m. and we welcome the visitors who want to enjoy weeks the our four on-site galleries. We have also continued with in person, staff pulled physically distanced art classes here at the Paradise, as well as virtual together classes that make some of our teachers and students feel more commanaging the daily operations. In fortable. November, I stepped in as in- As executive director, I am proud of the staff and board of directerim director to be the face of the tors for maintaining a positive outlook during this difficult time. I’m Paradise for the community and also proud of our ability to adapt our events by offering a livestream the liaison between the board and option for our audience. We held a fundraiser in May that allowed the staff. Within just a few weeks, I us to purchase the equipment we needed and we were lucky enough discovered how much I loved this to have an unpaid intern for the summer who helped us learn how challenging role and the women I to use it. Now you can enjoy a show from the comfort of your living have the pleasure to work with. I room. This service is something that we will continue even after we accepted the position of executive are allowed full auditorium capacity because it is a way for us to reach director March 19, just in time to Guest Columnist more of our community members who might otherwise not be able ride the storm of the pandemic. Heidi Nelson to join us in person.

Before the COVID-19 lockdown, we The past year has been a challenge for our industry and we are very were progressing toward creating a strong 2020-21 season of enter- grateful to our members and the Faribault community for donations tainment, classes, and gallery exhibitions. I am proud to say that of time, talent and treasure. I am especially grateful for the amazing during the three months that our doors were closed, we continued as staff that continues to work toward making the Paradise Center for a staff to work finding ways to stay connected to the community, as the Arts a polished gem for the city of Faribault. well as finding ways to fundraise and economize. Heidi Nelson is Paradise Center for the Arts’ executive director.

We spent the time we were closed organizing, painting, and updat-