Staff photo by Fritz Busch After a 30-year career in international business development, academia and nonprofit leadership, John Kellen, formerly of Willmar, is the new executive director at the Grand Center for Arts & Culture. An avid photographer and history lover, Kellen stands next to a photo he took of the Minnesota River near Upper Sioux State Park near Granite Falls.

NEW ULM — A Willmar High School graduate, international businessman and photographer who returned to Minnesota from Arizona to care for aging parents several years ago, is the new executive director at The Grand Center for Arts & Culture.

John Kellen said living in other places, expanding printing business operations in 25 countries, gave him a new perspective of Minnesota.

“My first love is nature. I was born and raised in Minnesota, the heartland of all things nature,” said Kellen.

“The world around us is one of the most under appreciated aspects of our life. I’m here to capture every second and minute of it,” he added.

“There are some amazing things going on in small towns in Minnesota. I always knew a needed to re-enter the work force after my parents passed. I didn’t want to go back to the corporate world. I wanted to take advantage of my business skills and my creative side,” he said.

Kellen said he met The Grand founder Anne Makepeace a year ago.

“She gave me a tour of The Grand. I thought wow, what a neat place this is. A couple months ago, I learned they were looking for a new executive director so I applied. So here I am. I’m excited to be here. This is really a neat place,” he said.

“I love history. New Ulm is really a neat community. I didn’t know much about it before other than it’s really a beautiful place in the Minnesota River Valley,” Kellen said. “Anne is mentoring me.”

Kellen said he is working on grant writing at The Grand now.

He said he’s connected with the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Action Team.

“I see people really take pride in their community in the work they’re doing, raising the quality of life. The Grand attracted me to come but in addition to New Ulm generally,” Kellen said.

He talked about when he plans to focus on at The Grand.

“Our plans are to focus on what we do well, namely high quality music performances, educational opportunities for all ages including art therapy for middle school students, quality art exhibitions in our 4 Pillars Gallery, and classes in our Cellar Press and Book Arts,” Kellen said. “We are also gearing up for summer art camps for kids as well as featuring 5 more artist in residency programs. Should be a fun year,” he added.

Kellen said another area of focus is to build up the endowment and donor base, add to the cadre of volunteers and increase memberships.

“Ultimately, it is costly maintaining a nonprofit organization and historically significant building. There is so much rich history here and my intention is to build on what the Gross/Makepeace families have created by developing a sustainable legacy going forward,” he added. “I’m very much looking forward to meeting community members and leaders of various organizations. There is a lot of synergy between various civic groups and I’m happy to be part of it.

“It’s quite an operation to run a non-profit like this. The more I learn, the more excited I am about it, meeting the folks here. I’ve already met a lot of them at the Grand Kabaret. We have live music every Friday night,” he added.

“I love music and all forms of art. Painting, sculpture, theater. To provide a space for creative people to come together. Our mandate is to support the arts,” Kellen said.

He said some people consider art a luxury.

“I think it’s what makes us human beings. Hosting art events have economic impact. Studies show it,” said Kellen.

“I think anything to do with the outdoors. Fishing, camping, hiking and skiing,” he added.

Kellen said he enjoys supporting the work of other artists.

This Friday, the Eclectics, a bluegrass band, perform at The Grand Cabaret from 7 to 9:30 p.m. the band does traditional fiddle music, old time bluegrass, pop and envelope-pushing instrumentals.