Granite Area arts council

The Granite Area Arts Council (GAAC) is a passionate 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to enriching rural Minnesota through diverse arts and cultural events. Operated by dedicated volunteers, GAAC brings the community together by showcasing regional artists in the historic K.K. Berge Building, hosting seasonal Makers Markets and the Community Artist in Residence Program and supporting events like Squid Fest and the Meander Art Crawl. Our initiatives thrive on generous donations from local businesses and individuals, fostering a vibrant arts scene. Join us in building community through art by attending events, volunteering, or making a donation. Together, we create and inspire.

Council members

  • Black and white photograph of a woman with glasses and short hair, smiling. She is wearing a patterned sweater and there is a plain wall background.

    Tamara Isfeld

    President

  • A black and white portrait of an older woman with short hair and glasses, wearing a dark top, standing against a plain light-colored wall.

    Sue Selden

    Secretary

  • Black and white photo of a woman smiling, with long dark hair, wearing a checkered shirt and a necklace, against a plain light background.

    Marit Nordang

    Vice President

  • Black and white photo of a smiling man wearing a cap and a plaid jacket with a The North Face logo, standing against a white wall.

    Chad Rand

    Treasurer

  • A woman with glasses and wavy hair smiling, wearing a knitted sweater, standing against a plain wall.

    Jessica Isfeld

    Member at large

  • Black and white photograph of an older woman with long gray hair, wearing glasses, smiling, against a plain light-colored wall.

    Mary Gillespie

    Giftshop Manager

  • A black and white photo of a woman with long dark hair, looking slightly to the side with a neutral expression, against a plain wall.

    Jessica Hennen

    Columnist

  • Black-and-white portrait of an elderly woman with short light hair, glasses, and a friendly smile, wearing a denim jacket.

    Bev Tellefsen

  • A black and white photo of an older woman with long light hair and glasses, wearing a checkered shirt, standing against a plain light-colored wall.

    Karen Odden

  • A smiling older woman with shoulder-length hair wearing glasses and a hoodie, standing against a plain white wall.

    Diane Ladner

  • Black and white photo of a woman smiling, sunglasses resting on her head, wearing a vest over a shirt, standing against a plain wall.

    Robin Robertson

  • Black and white portrait of a woman with shoulder-length hair, smiling slightly, wearing a cardigan and a top, standing against a plain wall.

    Anya Kalk

  • A woman with short hair, round glasses, wearing a knitted sweater with a pattern, and a dangling earring, smiling in front of a plain wall.

    Ariana Streblow

  • Black and white photo of a woman with shoulder length hair smiling at camera, wearing a striped sweater, against a plain wall background.

    Kathryn Kvam

The Historic K.K.Berge Building

The K.K. Berge Building was constructed in 1924 by K. K. Berge, a Norwegian immigrant tailor and prominent Granite Falls civic leader. Over the decades, it housed a variety of businesses—including a dry goods and tailoring shop, millinery, dental office, and jewelry store—with apartments on the upper floors. Despite repeated flood threats, the building was preserved and today serves as a community arts and cultural center, remaining a key historic landmark in downtown Granite Falls.

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