“I think that you can engage and connect with people so much better through art than, really, almost any other means.”
March 10, 2026By Mary Olson
Alignment is something many people seek in their lives, and New London-based artist Sonja Madsen sculpted her own alignment during a month-long art residency in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. With a degree in metalsmithing and sculpture, a talent for casting bronze, and a passion for creating otherworldly creatures through various materials, it made sense that Madsen was matched with the Creation Shop and its owner/artist Blayze Buseth for the Falls Community Arts Exchange, an art residency hosted by the nonprofit, Springboard for the Arts. “Blayze and I felt super aligned,” Madsen shared. “The way that we create—even though we work in different mediums—we’re both very centered on creating these sort of whimsy tales through creatures that aren’t quite human—learning and sharing so much about the human experience, though.”
Buseth hoped that Madsen would be able to “experience the community through the Creation Shop,” and shortly after Madsen’s arrival in September, 2024, Buseth handed over the keys to the Creation Shop. Inside, Madsen was equipped with a designated space where she could work and create. Buseth taught her about ceramics and wheel-throwing, and the two artists traded tips and techniques. By the end of the month, Madsen had created over 80 new pieces. Madsen also witnessed the realities of running a studio, which she noted is “not for the faint of heart,” and saw firsthand how Buseth builds community through the Creation Shop. “It’s a chance for an artist to see how another artist is trying to make a living by bringing the arts to their community,” Buseth said about the residency.
While doing her sculpting work, Madsen was able to tune into Buseth’s many community workshops, and eventually taught her own. Toward the end of her residency, Madsen guided two youth classes. The students created hand-sculpted pinch pots, designed to hold different items such as rocks, Pokémon cards, cherries, and more. The kids also created their own unique creature—a trinket guardian—to protect the trinkets in their pinch pot. Madsen’s goal was for the kids to branch out of the norm, to think outside the box and let their imaginations run wild. “Because kids just have so many ideas and there aren’t enough outlets for kids to be creative.” Inspired by Madsen’s classes, Buseth hopes to offer more workshops led by guest artists in the future, noting that it’s a “chance for the community to have something new and exciting to look toward.”
Not only did the students learn something from Madsen’s workshops, but Madsen also learned something about herself. She has prior experience in teaching, but she shared that “being able to lead a class in art through the Community Arts Exchange felt really aligned and validating.” The experience solidified her dreams of becoming a professor, and she is now attending graduate school.
When Madsen wasn’t sculpting, teaching, or observing during her time in Fergus Falls, she was most likely playing trivia. “In love with how many trivia nights Fergus Falls has,” she laughed. She went to coffee shops, walked along the river, attended the farmers market, and participated in community festivals. “There is so much charm and coziness all throughout the town,” she said, and she is already planning a return visit.
“I think that you can engage and connect with people so much better through art than, really, almost any other means.”
Overall, Madsen explained that the arts, and programs such as the Falls Community Arts Exchange, are essential for healthy communities. “The value I personally get out of making art is just so grounding in my life,” she said. “There is nothing else I could be doing that makes me feel as centered, or focused, or calm and clear-minded. It’s so centering and grounding. And I think that that’s something so many people need in their lives. And whether that’s from the perspective of making art or just partaking in art and witnessing art, it’s something so critical for people to interact with. I think that you can engage and connect with people so much better through art than, really, almost any other means.”
All photography by Brittanni Smith.
The Falls Community Arts Exchange invites artists to experience and engage with the vibrant arts community in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and connect with Springboard’s work and advocacy in rural creative community development. Learn more at https://springboardforthearts.org/programs/falls-arts-exchange.
In 2024, four Otter Tail County artists took part in a pilot program through Springboard for the Arts to draw attention to the idea of Guaranteed Income. Each created an art piece to showcase to the public with hopes of starting the conversation about Guaranteed Income and how it can help artists all across the state.
March 5, 2026By Lakeland PBS
In 2024, four Otter Tail County artists took part in a pilot program through Springboard for the Arts to draw attention to the idea of Guaranteed Income. Each created an art piece to showcase to the public with hopes of starting the conversation about Guaranteed Income and how it can help artists all across the state.
A new call for artists to do what they do best - deepen relationships and networks, create safe spaces for reflection and healing, gather community stories, and combat isolation.
February 26, 2026By Springboard for the Arts
Throughout Minnesota’s ICE occupation, artists have shown up for community in countless ways, whether it’s creating art, leading mutual aid and neighborhood initiatives, holding space for safety, grief, and repair, and more.
Artists, we’re so grateful for your essential work at this time. This includes over 60 rapid-response, neighborhood-scale projects launched across Minnesota through Artists Respond: Safety in Neighbors. We’re building upon that work with a new call for artists, Artists Respond: Rooted and Rising.
SelectedMinnesota artists will receive $2500 to lead neighborhood-scale projects that take place over 2-4 months to deepen relationships and networks, create safe spaces for reflection and healing, gather community stories, and combat isolation.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling deadline, and projects will be selected every 2 weeks from March 12-April 23,2026.
Artists Respond is a Springboard program that supports artists to create modest, community-rooted projects that rapidly and intentionally respond to community issues and opportunities. Past rounds have focused on social isolation, equitable rural futures, environmental stewardship, rural-urban solidarity, and economic justice through guaranteed income.
An evolving list of artist-specific resources and opportunities that are designed to help you as you navigate this difficult moment and the healing and repair that comes next.
February 12, 2026By Springboard for the Arts
Artists, we’re here for you. Throughout the past several months of federal occupation in Minnesota, we’ve seen how hard you have been working to support your neighbors and your community through your creativity. We know you need support, inspiration, relief, and opportunities for connection and collaboration. You’re not alone.
While the situation continues to develop, we know that it will take time for our communities to heal from the collective trauma, economic damages, and disruption in safety that we have faced. We’ve compiled an evolving list of artist-specific resources and opportunities that are designed to help you as you navigate this difficult moment and the healing and repair that comes next.
Emergency & Creative Small Business Relief
Statewide Artists Emergency Relief Fund Network – Stewarded by Springboard for the Arts, this network is a growing coalition of regional organizations in Minnesota supporting artists and creative workers with one-time emergency relief funds. The network includes relief fund programs from Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (Duluth), Five Wings Arts Council (Staples), the Metropolitan Arts Council (Saint Paul), the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council (Waseca), and the Region 2 Arts Council (Bemidji). Each program is operated independently with varying geographic scope, cycles and eligibility. Please visit your council’s website for detailed information on their relief program or find your regions program in our directory.
Creative Business Recovery Fund – The Creative Business Recovery Fund was created to respond to ongoing economic instability affecting artist micro-businesses, particularly those with limited access to capital and relief infrastructure. This fund supports 50 Minnesota micro-businesses and artists by providing $2,000 to help recover from months of lost sales and to reinvest in their creative businesses in preparation for the upcoming Spring/Summer season. Apply for the fund by March 15, 2026.
Calls for Artists-led Community Projects
Artists Respond: Rooted and Rising invites artists and culture bearers whose neighborhoods or communities have been impacted by harm, fear, and loss in the wake of Minnesota’s ICE occupation to do what they do best – deepen relationships and networks, create safe spaces for reflection and healing, and gather community stories. Applications will be accepted on rolling deadlines, and artist-projects selected every 2 weeks from March 12 – April 23, 2026. Apply to participate.
Call for Art: The Witnessing Wall – Minneapolis-based Curiosity Studio invites artists to contribute to a community art exhibit in their Spare Change Gallery. “Tell us your moments of grief, care, joy, resistance, purpose, action or learning you’ve experienced during this occupation. Add your offering to the wall for a neighbor to keep. Take an offering that resonates with you.”
Mutual Aid & Community Support
Community Aid Network MN – Community Aid Network (CANMN) is a grassroots volunteer-led organization located in the Bancroft neighborhood of Minneapolis, MN. We work to build solidarity with our neighbors, organize volunteers and redistribute resources to ensure everyone has the means for dignified survival.
MN Organizations Rise and Respond List – A directory of MN Arts Organizations mobilizing community support and creative interventions in response to ICE Occupation. Coordinated by Eleanor Savage, Jerome Foundation.
“Proceeds Will Go To…” by Birchwood Palace Industries – A practical guide for artists and cultural workers raising money through their work for direct support and mutual aid, and who want to understand the limits, risks, and trade-offs involved before taking action. This publication covers tax implications, sales tax, nonprofit and fiscal structures, charitable deductions, documentation, partnerships, pricing, fulfillment, raffles, and more.
Training & Legal Resources
Monarca MN & Unidos MN – Rapid response line, legal observer training, and online resources
MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee – MIRAC is an all-volunteer, grassroots, multiracial, and multinational immigrant rights mass-movement organization. MIRAC fights for legalization for all, an end to immigration raids and deportations, an end to all anti-immigrant laws, and full equality in all areas of life.
This list includes offerings from Springboard as well as organizations across Minnesota. This list will continue to be updated with resources as they are available.
We are grateful to McKnight Foundation, Jerome Foundation, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Knight Foundation, Hugh J. Anderson and an Anonymous funder for supporting the MN Artists Emergency Relief Network and other rapid response programming.
Featured collage photos by Ne-Dah-Ness Greene and Thai Phan-Quang.
“Every time I return to Fergus Falls and this area, I feel more and more connected to the land, the people, the shops, the special pace here.”
February 11, 2026By Springboard for the Arts
Artists play a key role in connecting communities and expanding possibilities. They’re often at the center of spaces and experiences that help us build new relationships and make meaning together.
In response to what’s possible when creative ideas are shared across geographies, we created the Falls Community Arts Exchange. This program invites artists to experience the vibrant community in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the location of Springboard’s rural headquarters, while partnering with local organizations to co-create meaningful, place-based community projects.
“We expected to like Fergus Falls, but we really did fall in love with it. We really became very connected to it over the course of a month, and I wasn’t expecting that.” – Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns, 2024 Exchange Artist
This Project Based Exchange invites artists to live and work in Fergus Falls for 4 weeks to complete a collaborative project with a local partner. Benefits for this Exchange include a $4000 stipend and travel/caregiving support, Lodging and workspace in a cozy, one-bedroom apartment above Springboard’s offices in downtown Fergus Falls, and documentation/project support from Springboard staff.
The 2024-25 exchange welcomed dancer Leila Awadallah (Minneapolis, MN), poet/writer Bella Dawson (Minneapolis, MN), sculptor Sonja Madsen (New London, MN), musician Elisha Marin (Albert Lea, MN), multidisciplinary artist Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns (Minneapolis, MN), and visual artist Casper Warren (Minneapolis, MN). The artists partnered with local organizations the Fergus Falls School of Dance,Kaddatz Galleries,The Creation Shop, Stella’s Restaurant, Otter Cove Children’s Museum, and SAGA Youth on a variety of community projects, including a zine club, dance workshops, music circles, and an interactive exhibit to educate young learners about the voting and elections process.
A few words from the artists about their experience:
“I feel I was given a small portal back in time to my upbringing in my small town. This time, I was the queer trans adult I so would’ve needed. In some way, I hope the past has been rectified.” -Casper Warren, 2025 Exchange Artist
“Every time I return to Fergus Falls and this area, I feel more and more connected to the land, the people, the shops, the special pace here. I am grateful to have a connection to you all and to keep growing it!” -Leila Awadallah, 2025 Exchange Artist
“I had a really positive experience in Fergus Falls. The community was welcoming, the creative energy was strong, and the support from Springboard was outstanding.” -Elisha Marin, 2025 Exchange Artist
Inside Fergus Falls
The Falls Community Arts Exchange offers two ways for artists to participate, depending on your goals, availability, and interest in collaboration:
Project Based Exchange
For our 2026-27 exchange, we are seeking 3 artists of any discipline who are interested in co-creating a project with one of our local partners. Our host partners this year are: Fergus Falls Public Library, Victor Lundeen’s Printing, and Outstate Brewing. Apply by March 30, 2026.
Are you an artist interested in experiencing Fergus Falls, Minnesota on your own timeline? Springboard also offers a DIY Exchange! This opportunity is open year-round, on a rolling basis. Registration fees are on a sliding scale starting at $50 / night, with some financial assistance available.
Applications are open to artists nationwide, with priority given to Minnesota artists and artists that identify as BIPOC, Native, LGBTQIA, and Artists with Disabilities. Learn more about the Falls Community Arts Exchange.
Photography by Ne-Dah-Ness Greene, Brittanni Smith, and Bee Kakac, 2024-25.
Meet the artists and organizations co-creating innovative projects to inspire connection across Minnesota.
December 28, 2025By Springboard for the Arts
Springboard for the Arts is proud to introduce the artists and organizations of Artists Respond: Weaving Social Connection, a new initiative rooted in the belief that creativity is essential to community well-being. The following artists and organizations will work together throughout 2026 to bring innovative, engaging, and artist-led community projects across Minnesota.
“At the heart of this project are our community partners who are already doing vital work to bring people together. These organizations believe in the power of art and culture to strengthen their existing networks, and are eager to build capacity and shared learning with their artist partners. We’re excited to see – and share – the results of these projects, and the learning that will emerge to support social connectedness long term.” – Springboard Community Development Director Ricardo Beaird and Rural Director Michele Anderson
This work responds to a growing crisis: loneliness and social disconnection are now recognized as urgent public health issues, with impacts on mental and physical health comparable to smoking or heart disease. Artists are essential in this moment, not just for what they make, but for how they help people feel seen, heard, and part of something larger.
Meet the Artists
Annie Hough (she/her) Moorhead, MN
Annie Hough is working on her 11th educational play for children about ecosystems. She loves learning and teaching others about nature. Disabled since adolescence, Annie is committed to being as active and healthy as possible. She lives in Moorhead with her wonderful partner Richard and their adorable little dog Elmer. Annie will be working with Saga Youth.
Annie will be collaborating with the SAGA Youth.
Ashley Nelson (she/her) Fargo-Moorhead, MN
Ashley Nelson is a professional muralist and community-oriented artist based in the Fargo–Moorhead region. She transforms blank walls into vibrant, story-filled spaces that bring color and connection to both public and private settings. With a BFA in Painting & Drawing from the University of North Dakota, Ashley has built a practice that blends creativity with her passion for community engagement. Often inspired by nature, her greater purpose is bringing art into everyday life, creating work that is accessible, uplifting, and rooted in place.
Ashley will be collaborating with the SAGA Youth.
Kate Mudge (she/her) West Central, MN
Kate Mudge lives on a 40-acre farm in rural west-central Minnesota with her wife, where she is slowly building a care farm. Before moving to the country, she spent more than a decade as a professional baker in the Twin Cities, shaping her love for food, community, and craft. Alongside her nonprofit work, Kate embraces the rhythms of rural life: gardening, foraging, lake swimming, and homesteading. A creative at heart, she finds joy in metalsmithing, music, animals, and baking for neighbors, weaving together art, food, and farming as expressions of art, connection and belonging.
Kate will be collaborating with the SAGA Youth.
Eliza Klarer (she/they) White Earth Nation Eliza graduated from University of Minnesota Morris in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art, focusing on ceramics and painting. She calls the White Earth Reservation home, where her late grandmother, Judy Toppings, revitalized the knowledge of woodland pottery, teaching her family in the process. Eliza enjoys keeping traditional arts alive by teaching classes on woodland pottery, dreamcatchers, and recently led painting workshops with elders in her community. Her main goal is to inspire others through her artwork. She enjoys working with a variety of media, apart from those previously mentioned, she expresses herself through book making, textile work, and many more, she puts no limits on her artistic expression.
Eliza will be collaborating with the MAHUBE-OTWA.
Victoria McWane-Creek (she/they) Fergus Falls, MN Daughter of Rose and Edward, Lillie’s granddaughter, and Martha’s great-granddaughter, Victoria is reclaiming creativity using word craft with spoken word as life-sustaining expression, spell casting, and world-building. During this 3rd stanza in life, they spend as much time as possible creating space for beauty, belonging, and expression.
Victoria will be collaborating with the MAHUBE-OTWA.
WholeHeart Collective (led by Naomi RaMona Schliesman) Fergus Falls, MN Based in Fergus, the WholeHeart Collective offers Wellness Services, Classes, Art Workshops, Art Gallery, Co-work, Consulting, Retail pop-ups, and more.
The Collective is led by Naomi RaMona Schliesman, an award-winning interdisciplinary artist with over 25 years of experience. Naomi has exhibited her work in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Pittsburg, Brooklyn, Seattle and across the Midwest.
The Collective will be collaborating with the MAHUBE-OTWA.
Danielle Brantley (she/her) Twin Cities, MN
Danielle Brantley is faith-driven, passionate crafter, and a book lover based in the Twin Cities. Through career development with MN DEED, she’s exploring how to turn her passions into a career focused on creativity. Inspired by her experiences at The Aliveness Project, Danielle values art as a bridge across generations and cultures. She envisions offering inclusive art spaces where people can learn, create, and connect—especially those who might otherwise feel isolated. With each student leaving with a tangible piece of art, they take home both their creation and the experience of shared creativity, a lasting reminder of community and belonging.
Danielle will be collaborating with the Aliveness Project.
Kashif (he/they) Twin Cities, MN
Kashif is a Black queer visual and conscious performance artist and wholeness enthusiast dedicated to creativity and community. Through projects like The CreatHIVity Project and The Liberxted Experience, they express liberation and joy, using art as a medium for self-love and unity. With a B.A. in Theatre from Point Park University, Kashif shifted from traditional acting to creating meaningful works for marginalized communities. They’re currently featured in ads for TSR Time and Best Buy. They’ve also studied The Power of Presence at Eckhart Tolle’s School of Awakening to deepen their artistic expression.
Kashif will be collaborating with the Aliveness Project.
Briauna Williams (she/her) Saint Paul, MN Briauna Williams is an acrylic artist, muralist, published illustrator, and teaching artist who celebrates the strength and beauty and joy of her community through her art. With a deep commitment to community engagement, and empowerment, Briauna founded her brand Briinoir to provide a range of services that uplift and inspire.
Briauna will be collaborating with the Saint Paul Public Library.
Victor Yepez (he/him) Minneapolis, MN
Through his work as a sculptor and muralist as well as an art teacher, public artist Victor Yepez has exposed many people to the power and healing that art can provide. Found objects and recycled materials, especially metal, influence many of Yepez’s sculptures, while rich colors and movement are hallmarks of his murals. Victor graduated with a degree in sculpture and printmaking from the School of Fine Arts, Central University in Quito, Ecuador.
Victor will be collaborating with the Saint Paul Public Library.
Artists Respond is a series of programming engaging artists around critical issues, with funded opportunities for artists to create projects around a shared theme. Learn more.
Three Minnesota artists are imagining new ways to bring people together throughout the year, and using art to do it!
December 22, 2025By Springboard for the Arts
Three Minnesota artists are imagining new ways to bring people together throughout the year, and using art to do it! From foraging materials for fire building, starting your own podcast, or writing snail mail to a loved one, these new artist-led workshops from Ready Go are available for hire to bring to your community!
Building off Springboard’s Ready Go program, Ready Go Workshops is aimed at connecting artists directly to their local communities through engaging workshops that connect, inspire, and spark your creativity. Learn more about the artists below and how to submit a book request!
Meet the Artist
Fire Building with Ben Weaver Frogtown, MN
Learn about relationship building through fire. In this workshop led by Ben Weaver, participants will learn how to prepare, start and keep a fire, while also participating in building relationships with their community.
Before You Hit Record with Katey DeCelle Saint Paul, MN
Create your own podcast with just your laptop! In this workshop led by seasoned podcast producer Katey DeCelle, you will gain the skills needed to launch your own podcast, such as structuring your first episode, mastering interview techniques, and editing audio effectively.
Mail A Snail with Z Akhmetova Saint Paul, MN
Mercutio the Snail (with assistance from Twin Cities artist Z Akhmetova) will guide you to slow down and create a postcard to mail to a friend, loved one, local government representative, or anyone you think should receive some good old fashioned snail mail.
Ready Go is a platform of artist-led activities that can be customized and brought to community events, creating unique, engaging arts experiences that bring people together. Located at www.readygoart.com, these artist-created mobile tools are purpose-built to pique curiosity, prompt interaction, and facilitate engagement through making and participation.
Inspired by Leslye Orr’s advocacy for “the possibilities of disabilities,” Springboard is proud to introduce a new fund that fosters artistry, inclusivity, and community joy.
December 18, 2025By Springboard for the Arts
Springboard is proud to formally announce the launch of a new annual fund that provides non-competitive direct support for artists with disabilities in Minnesota to create work and invest in their careers. Inspired by our friend Leslye Orr’s advocacy for “the possibilities of disabilities,” this fund fosters artistry, inclusivity, and community joy.
About the Fund:
Annually, 4 Minnesota-based artists will be selected through a randomized drawing process of eligible applicants
Each artist will receive a $2,500 unrestricted grant
This opportunity is open to artists of all disciplines that self-identify as an artist with disabilities
This is an unrestricted grant that can be used for artistic work, career development, creative exploration, living/family expenses, or any opportunity or need that contributes to the success of the artist.
About Leslye Orr
Leslye Orr (1955-2025) was a Minnesota-based playwright, performer and teacher well-known for her workshops on the integration of people with disabilities. She was blind from birth, and learned to walk by following her mother’s finger snaps. After 18 eye surgeries, she gained low tunnel vision in her right eye. She proudly referred to herself as a “cyclops,” and saw her disability as a gift that fostered her big imagination.
Leslye was the creator of many unforgettable solo shows, from her signature comedy Women Who Drink, to Wisecracks from My Father, and What I Thought I Saw: Random Acts of Blindness. She toured her disability awareness play Hand in Hand to all fifty states, and internationally with the U.S. Department of State. From 2006 to 2023, she co-ran Dreamland Arts, a 40-seat black box theater attached to her family’s house in Saint. Paul. It was a space for artists of all backgrounds to tell their stories. Learn more about Leslye’s work and legacy at https://www.leslyeorr.com.
Apply to the fund
Applications are open annually to Minnesota residents who self-identify as an artist with disabilities.
The Leslye Orr Memorial Fund for Artists with Disabilities is managed by Springboard for the Arts and sustained by community support. Thank you for contributing to the fund!
After 2 years of virtual gatherings, connections, and dreaming, the Creative Change Coalition convened over 100 individuals from organizations from across the nation for 3 days of conversations, resource sharing, and connection.
December 3, 2025By Creative Change Coalition
The Creative Change Coalition, stewarded by Springboard for the Arts, had a few specific goals in mind for the 3-day gathering it hosted in Saint Paul, MN in October 2025: offer space to build community; share resources; celebrate 2 years of Coalition growth; and take a moment together to recognize the impact of place-based, people-centered organizations of various sizes, capacities, and expertise.
The first day of the gathering kicked off with a keynote from Eric Liu, CEO of Citizen University and “Civic Evangelist”, who spoke about Civic Power and what it means to invest in community change. Following Eric’s keynote, we reflected on the everyday work of building creative change in a panel moderated by Aviva Kapust of Mural Arts Philadelphia, featuring Bethany Lacktorin of Little Theatre Auditorium (New London, MN), Marc David Pinate of Borderlands Theater (Tucson, AZ), Ismail Samad of Loiter (East Cleveland, OH),and Symphony Swan-Zawadi, BFA, M.ED of THE CR8TV HOUSE (Milwaukee, WI).
Day Two began with a panel on developing and sustaining creative ecosystems that featured Omari Rush of CultureSource (Detroit, MI) as moderator with Joseph Allen of Manoomin Arts Initiative (White Earth Nation, Mahnomen, MN), Gustavo Herrera of Arts for LA (Los Angeles, CA), and Louise Martorano of Community Arts Stabilization Trust Colorado (Denver, CO).
From breakout workshops on community-centric fundraising, national advocacy networks, and cross-sector collaboration; to sharing resources and learnings over lunch on Springboard’s front lawn; to an evening trip to Can Can Wonderland after the day’s sessions, the rest of the time together was a joyful celebration of community power and the essential role of local culture in making change. Attendees spent time together during the gathering’s final morning in breakout discussions exploring topics and possibilities to shape the direction of the Coalition in 2026.
“We left feeling energized by the conversations, the generosity of spirit, and the practical frameworks shared by so many artists and organizers doing transformational work across the country. It was a gift to be part of a space so rooted in care, equity, and imagination.”
– Gathering Participant
The gathering closed with an afternoon at Springboard’s annual community appreciation event, Fall Fest. Artist-led projects from Ready Go and local makers filled the space, including sign making, metal pouring, line dancing, postcard writing, and much more.
While the needs vary for each organization and the communities they serve, this 3-day gathering offered a moment to commit to our collective strength. We know that locally-rooted, people-centered work is essential to building more human-centered and just systems and that local culture, local people and local power are the building blocks of healthier communities. The Creative Change Coalition is committed to helping this emerging network continue to build the visibility and value of this work.
The Creative Change Coalition is a national coalition of place-based organizations that center people, creativity, and equity working together to create a stronger ecosystem for communities and artists. The Coalition supports local organizations by providing peer engagement opportunities, technical assistance and practical resources. Together we make this field more visible, drive resources to local organizations, and discover shared research, advocacy and policy change opportunities. Springboard for the Arts has stewarded the Creative Change Coalition since its launch in the fall of 2023.To learn more about the Creative Change Coalition, visit www.creativechangecoalition.org.
Over a summer, neighbors and artists created a community mural inspired by connection, collaboration, and the dreams that we build together.
November 19, 2025By Springboard for the Arts
Over a summer, neighbors and artists created a community mural inspired by connection, collaboration, and the dreams that we build together.
On the back of Springboard for the Arts’ building in downtown Fergus Falls, A Beautiful Dream stretches across the building– a hand-painted mural created and designed with the help of more than 100 community members. The mural was a summer long project, consisting of a series of public painting days that culminated in a public celebration to unveil the finished mural and celebrate community.
Earlier that fall, 20 local residents helped shape the mural’s design through a series of public workshops to imagine what the mural could look like.
Leading the mural design and installation process was Mural On the Wall, a community-based mural team from Vermillion, SD. Since 2019, The founding members Amber Hansen,Reyna Hernandez, and Sonia Hernandez have facilitated mural projects in communities across the U.S. Mural OTW utilizes a collaborative approach from start to finish, inviting community members to reimagine public spaces and create imagery that speaks to the identity of their place. This project was no different, and the Mural OTW team worked in close collaboration with local artists Jess Torgerson, Erika Frikken, and Scott Gunvaldson as well as youth apprentices Brooklyn Evans, Aron Anderson, Sheariah Sheppard, and Izzy Kenyon to bring the project to life.
“The mural design process has helped me better connect and learn exactly what values and important history this area has. There is a strong sense of community when we come together to discuss what ‘home’ means to us.” said Sheariah Sheppard, youth apprentice.
During the Opening Celebration of the mural, over 150 community members came out to view the mural, meet the design team, and enjoy a beautiful summer evening together. With arts and creativity found on every block of downtown (where Springboard is located) whether it’s an artist-owned shop, a sculpture walk, splash pad, or galleries, Fergus Falls is a place that is fostered and fueled by its artist community. And now, with its celebration of color, community, and people, Springboard is proud to have A Beautiful Dream as a visible reminder of what makes Fergus Falls home.
Made possible in part by the Floyd & Harriet Miller Endowment Fund established with West Central Initiative.
A special thank you to Richard Smestad, Kelly Swanson, the City of Fergus Falls and Otter Tail Power Company.
Image credits: Aaron C. Packard and Brittanni Smith.
