About

About Us

Our multi-disciplinary art center is filled with opportunities for you and your family to experience the transformative power of the arts and engage with our arts-loving community!


We are a vibrant, cultural, and artistic gathering space in Historic downtown Faribault. We are centrally located in Southern MN, less than an hour from 3 major hubs: St Paul/Minneapolis, Mankato, and Rochester.

We are thrilled to bring you an exciting line-up of entertaining shows, visual art exhibits & educational opportunities made possible by Minnesota State Arts Board and SEMAC grants, and the generous gifts of businesses and individuals.

Our Mission

~ We welcome all people to experience the transformative power of the arts. ~


Our Vision

The Paradise Center for the Arts is a collaborative center of artistic activity in downtown Faribault. We offer art education, gallery exhibits and live performances of music, theater, comedy, and other artistic opportunities for all ages. We are a vibrant hub in our community and a well fueled economic engine for the region.


Our Values

Integrity: We manage this community asset entrusted to us with integrity; honoring our rich history, protecting our historic building, and embracing new ideas to encourage greater involvement by all community members.


Collaboration: We collaborate broadly with local organizations, regional arts organizations, volunteers, and artists to provide outstanding performances, exhibits, and education.


Creative Expression: As a center for artistic expression we value all interpretations of the arts and strive to bring a diverse representation to our offerings.


Inclusion: We strive to thoughtfully provide cultural programming that attracts and respects all the diversity we admire in our community and region.


Quality: We offer quality creative programming that constantly evolves to meet the needs of active participants and the community we serve.

Native Land Acknowledgement

At The Paradise Center for the Arts, we recognize and honor the land on which we gather, create, and celebrate.

We acknowledge that the land we stand upon is the ancestral homeland of the Dakota people, specifically the Mdewakanton and Wahpekute bands of the Sioux Nation.


As we come together in the spirit of artistic expression, we honor the traditions and contributions of Native peoples, and we strive to foster an inclusive and respectful community for all.

Our History

Our beautifully restored facility is built on the original foundation of the 1885 Faribault Opera House, which was destroyed by fire in 1929. Designed by the architectural firm Liebenberg and Kaplan, the Paradise was originally conceptualized as the Granada with a Moorish or Spanish theme.

After years of operation as a movie theater, and then several years of vacancy and decay, the community rallied to restore this magnificent jewel. The building was extensively renovated in 2006 to include art galleries, classrooms, clay and textile labs, a gift shop and rehearsal spaces, in addition to a 278 seat auditorium. The Paradise Center for the Arts opened to the public in 2007. In 2008, The Paradise Center for the Arts received the MN Preservation Alliance Restoration/Rehabilitation Award.


For over 40 years, the Faribault Art Center (now Paradise Center for the Arts) has been part of the Faribault community. Began in the 1950s by a small group of artists, FAC promoted visual arts to local artists and art lovers through classes, exhibitions, and community involvement projects. FACT also had a strong history of making theatrical performances accessible to community participants as well as patrons. There are currently five community theatre performances a year, held in the Bahl Family Auditorium.

Paradise Center for the Arts functions under the Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation of Faribault Art Center, and retains its nonprofit status: EIN 41-138-1314.

We look forward to the opportunity to share with YOU what Paradise has to offer. Visit our facility and enjoy our many artistic offerings. Contact us to learn more today.

Our Staff

Julie Fakler

Executive Director

Will McIntyre

Performing Arts and Education Director

Rhonda Norgaard

Administrative Assistant

Sara Caron

Production Coordinator

Char Johnson

Volunteer Coordinator &

Box Office

Dallas Musselman

Box Office

Board of Directors

President: Matthew Long

Vice President: Todd Ginter

Secretary: Jessica Schwie

City Council Representative: Mandy Barnes

Vicki Kanne

Rosemarie Marraccini

Kandice Nelson

Kelly Nygaard

Todd Rost

Andrea Turini

Click Here to View Our 2023 Annual Report

100 Club Members

Mark E. Ahnemann

Carol J. Anderson

Anonymous 

Lynn Babcock

Marian Bahl

Greg & Diane Barta

Barta Machine, LLC

John & Phyllis Battles

Gregory & Bonnie Becker

Tim & Wendy Becker

Alane Bendtsen & Steve Searl

Fred & Jan Bettner

Fred, Nichole & Ella Bettner

Ellen & Ward Bisping

Scott & Kari Boldt

The Budde Family

Dan & Diane Burns

Kenneth & Linda Butzow

Mary Cameron & Bob Crone

Brent & Judy Conlow

Richard Cook Family

Dave Correll & Ann Meillier

Brad & Marcia Schroder

Dean Schultz In Memory of Loreen Schultz

Susan Searl

Julianna & Roger Skluzacek

Reuben & Janet Tangren

Troy & Linda Temple Family

Tolle Fine Art

Sara Coulter

Mary Donahue Family

Father Henry Doyle

Matt & Kris Drevlow

Tony & Kathy Drouillard

Amy Elliott & Matt Drenth

Faribault Chamber Trust

Faribault Foundation

Faribault Vacuum & Sewing Center

Roger Fette - Fette Productions

Richard & Joyce Fette - Fette Electronics

In Memory of Greg Fette - The Fette Family

Scot & Peggy Gardner

Tom & Kathleen Gerbig

Dennis & Patt Germann

George Gleim

Cate Grinney & Steve Hunter

Tom’s Pro Glass

Marvin & Sandi Trandem

The Tuma Family

Cathy Von Ruden

Sertoma Club of Faribault

Harley Tate

The Joe Varley Family

James Coulter

David M. Gross & Lynne E. Goldberg

Bonnie & Bruce Gustafson

John & Diane Hagen

Gary & Jacquelyn Hartwig

Jason & Jane Hillesheim

Dr. Richard & Nancie Huston

Jane

Donn & Ardys Johnson

LuAnn Johnson

Diane E. Juvland

Ken & Pat Kangas

Richard & Anna Kettering

Gail Kielmeyer

Al & Carol Kingsley

Kathy Hilgers Larson     

Dwight & Dianne Lockerby and Saul & Sarah Lockerby

Doug Madow & Micki O’Flynn

Rod Mahler

Todd & Lori Jo Markman

Bill & Marsha McDonald

George & Eileen Voracek

Cori & Rob Weems

Barbara A. & Robert A. Wegner

Neil & Jenny Whannel

Evelyn Kay Meyer & Seabron B. Johnson

Mike & Carmen Monge

Doug & Liz Nelson

Mary Niermann

Tom Noble

Glen & Shirley Norgaard

Dr. Robert & Julie Olson

In Memory of Elaine Paukert Lynch by her Loving Daughter

Jim & Deb Purfeerst

Carol Quail

Audrey & Wayne Quiggle

Reliance Bank

Don & Jeanette Reuvers

Mary and Mike Richie

Pat Rice

Craig & Lisa Ryan

Jennifer R. Sawyer

Kim & Darren Schaufenbuel

Dan Schonebaum & Sigrid Nelson

Marvin & Sara Schrader

George Wickstrom, Jr.

Grant & Lisa Wilson

Mark & Deb Wisdorf

Simon & Dr. Karen Zeller

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