Artists Respond: Weathering Together (Rice Creek Watershed District)

Deadline to Apply: Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 11:59PM CST
Project Timeline: December 2025 – February 2026
Artist & Project Stipend: $1,500

Are you an artist who lives, works, or has a meaningful relationship within the Rice Creek Watershed District? Springboard for the Arts, in partnership with the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD), is seeking artists who live or work within the RCWD geography to participate in a new initiative: Artists Respond: Weathering Together – RCWD. This program invites artists to use creative methods to engage communities around stormwater management, flooding prevention, native plants, and water health: the everyday realities of climate resilience in our neighborhoods.

We know that water connects us, and we know that artists help people see and feel those connections in new ways. This opportunity is about lifting up artists’ lived experience, creativity, and relationships to help build a more resilient watershed.

Project Description

We’ll begin with a one-day, in-person Artists Working in Community intensive in March 2026. Artists will gather with RCWD staff and guest experts to learn about local water systems, creative community organizing, and narrative change. 

Your project could look like:

• A temporary mural or public art piece about stormwater or flood mitigation
• A neighborhood planting or native garden ritual
• A storytelling walk, soundscape, or performance about water and place
• A participatory workshop or zine that helps neighbors learn about water quality
• Or something else entirely, rooted in your community

Artists will receive coaching and support from Springboard staff throughout the program. After completing their project, each artist will be asked to share documentation (a photo and a short reflection).

Eligibility & Considerations

• Applicants must live, work, or have a meaningful connection to communities within the RCWD geography. The RCWD is approximately 185 square miles of urban and rural land in Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington Counties. Are you in the RCWD? Check here.
• Open to all artistic disciplines (visual, performance, writing, culinary, craft, digital, etc.).
• No polished proposal is required at the time of application; just a clear sense of your creative practice(s), your community connection, and why this work matters to you.

What You’ll Receive

• $1,500 artist stipend to develop and implement a community-rooted project
• Training through the Artists Working in Community intensive (March 2026)
• Coaching and technical support from Springboard and RCWD staff
• Documentation support for your project

Timeline

• December 2025: RFQ development and artist outreach
• February 2026: Artist selected
• March 2026: Artists Working in Community intensive (3–4 hours)
• April–August 2026: Project development and implementation
• September 2026: Final documentation and story share-out

How to Apply
Apply at the link below.

Artists will be selected based on:

• Clarity of their creative practice and community connections
• Demonstrated interest in environmental and/or place-based work
• Potential to design a small project rooted in community needs and strengths

Questions or Access Needs?
Contact: sam@springboardforthearts.org

This program is supported by the Rice Creek Watershed District.

https://springboard.slideroom.com/#/login/program/87605/5jx2HlW1U4