Arts and culture are vital ingredients in creating welcoming and engaged rural communities with strong local economies. 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.
About the Falls Community Arts Exchange
Fergus Falls is a regional hub of arts and culture in West Central Minnesota, with a variety of organizations and spaces dedicated to visual arts, dance, performance, and artistic development. For the last 15 years, Springboard for the Arts’ rural headquarters in Fergus Falls has supported local artists in developing their careers, while building a national network of relationships and advocacy about the importance of the arts and artists in rural places. Springboard has brought together over 1,500 rural artists to Fergus Falls through programs like the Rural Regenerator Fellowship, the Rural Futures Summit, and more.
In partnership with organizations and businesses, the Falls Community Arts Exchange invites artists to Fergus Falls who are interested in growing their own practice in a supportive environment or completing a collaborative local project. Visiting artists reside in a beautiful one-bedroom apartment in downtown Fergus Falls, and have access to support from Springboard staff, connections to local artists and leaders, and more.
A coalition of local host partners play a key role in the Falls Exchange by sharing their own place-based processes and strategies with visiting artists, connecting artists to local community goals, and providing a supportive network for the artists to engage with local residents.
Project Based Exchange
Our 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 $4,000 stipend to support living and project expenses during the exchange
Travel and caregiving support stipend (up to $1,000)
Lodging and workspace in a cozy, one-bedroom apartment above Springboard’s offices in downtown Fergus Falls
Storytelling and documentation support (photos, videos, etc of your project)
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.
The Falls Community Arts Exchange is made possible by the Floyd & Harriet Miller Endowment Fund established with West Central Initiative, and by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Funders
Minnesota State Arts Board
West Central Initiative
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you currently accepting applications?
Yes! Applications are open for two experiences:
The Project Based Exchange is a paid opportunity, and a 4 week commitment. Artists receive $4,000 stipend to support living and project expenses, and will collaborate on a project with one of our Fergus Falls community partners, Outstate Brewing, Victor Lundeen’s Printing, and the Fergus Falls Public Library.
The DIY Exchange Program is a flexible, self-directed opportunity, with a minimum commitment of 2 nights. Registration fees are offered on a sliding scale, from $50 – $150 per night, with some financial assistance available. Artists must briefly define how the Exchange will support their individual goals. This is a non-competitive application process, artists are accepted on a first-come first served basis (subject to availability).
Who is eligible to apply for the Falls Exchange?
To be eligible for the Project Based Exchange, you must:
Live in the United States.
Live at least 50 miles distance from Fergus Falls, MN.
To be eligible for the DIY Exchange, you must:
Participate in the Exchange with an arts and culture related purpose (you will state this in your request form).
What are the 3 partners hoping to work on? Are there specific dates?
In the application, you will have the opportunity to indicate which of three partners you are interested in collaborating with. You may select as many partners as you wish, but will only work with one partner if you are selected.
Outstate Brewing is seeking a visiting musician to engage with teens and young adults in Fergus Falls through songwriting, performance, and/or recording activities. Outstate Brewing’s Exchange Dates are July 27 – August 24, 2026.
Victor Lundeen’s Printing is seeking a writer, bookmaker, or print specialist to activate their historic print shop and bookstore as a site for artist-led experimentation, storytelling, and community engagement—exploring the cultural role of books, print, and publication in a rural downtown context. Victor Lundeen’s Exchange dates are October 19 – November 16, 2026.
Fergus Falls Public Library is seeking an artist from any discipline to activate the Library as a welcoming hub for creativity, connection, and shared cultural experiences, expanding the Library’s reach and inviting new audiences into a vibrant culture of reading and creative expression. The Library’s Exchange dates are January 11 – February 8, 2027.
Do I need to propose a project in my application?
No, you do not need to propose a project in your application for either Exchange program.
For the Project Based Exchange, you will need to share why you are interested in working with one or more of our partner organizations. Once you are selected for the program, you will develop your project idea in collaboration with your partner. We do encourage you to highlight past projects and partnerships in your application to give us an understanding of how you would potentially approach this opportunity.
For the DIY Exchange, we simply ask that you briefly share how the Exchange would support your current goals as an artist.
How and when do you pair applicants with host organizations?
Upon acceptance into the program, we will share the organization(s) that we feel is a good fit for your residency, based on your interests and experiences, as well as availability. We will then connect you to your host organization for an initial meet and greet and planning meeting so that you can begin scoping your residency plans.
Can I bring family members to the Exchange? What about pets?
We welcome family or friends to stay in the Exchange apartment with you, provided that you give us notice at least 3 days in advance of their arrival. Please note that the apartment is a one-bedroom, with a full size bed. A couch and a pull-out cot have worked well for artists bringing guests with them.
Sorry, pet friends are not allowed, unless they are service animals.
