No Place Like Home: Why the Arts Are Thriving in Rural Minnesota Communities
"There’s so much creativity that exists in [rural places] that gets overlooked."
June 24, 2026
By Pulitzer Center
By Pulitzer Center
"There’s so much creativity that exists in [rural places] that gets overlooked."
Our outgoing Executive Director Laura Zabel shares exciting news for Springboard, the Coalition, and a new partnership with the Knight Foundation!
Minnesota’s artists aren’t that different from artists anywhere, but there are some unique parts of Minnesota’s ecosystem that explain the breadth and depth of the creative response to the federal immigration enforcement surge.
The regionally-based Artist Emergency Relief Fund Network assures that arts and culture workers are seen, valued, and supported, even when times are tough.
After 21 years of leading Springboard for the Arts, Laura Zabel announces plans to pass the baton to a new Executive Director.
Over 30,000 artists live in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota State Arts Board, from dancers and musicians to painters and crafters. Springboard for the Arts offers services to all of them.
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.
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.
“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.”
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