Springboard for the Arts is excited to announce a new collaboration with South Dakota-based art collective, Mural On the Wall, to develop a new mural at our rural headquarters in downtown Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The mural will be installed in summer 2025 on the south side of the Benson Building, located on the corner of Lincoln Ave and Court St. Interested in being involved? Apply below!
The Rural Regenerator Fellowship supports long term learning and exchange across rural geographies and provide financial support to creative rural leaders so they can think big as they grow, shift or expand their leadership efforts. With the inaugural cohort starting in October 2021, the Rural Regenerator Fellowship will bring rural artists and creatives together with rural organizers and other cross-sector leaders for learning, exchange, and problem solving around issues facing rural communities.
Since 2013, Springboard for the Arts' has hosted more than 1500 rural arts practitioners from across the country to share learning and build solidarity around artist-led rural community development. Our latest gathering, the Rural Futures Summit, was hosted in June of 2023 and brought together over 100 artists, creative organizers, culture bearers, and thought leaders for 3 days of connection and exchange, making art and music together, and building solidarity around the challenges and opportunities of rural creative leadership.
A partnership with Otter Tail County Solid Waste, "Sustainability Studios" are intergenerational, creative gatherings that invite the public to use art and innovation to reduce everyday waste. This ongoing series aims to educate and encourage small but significant lifestyle changes that contribute to regional and global sustainability while celebrating our region’s unique cultural heritage.
Artists on Main Street is a partnership with Rethos: Places Reimagined (formerly the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota) which promotes and supports the leadership of artists in addressing the challenges affecting Main Street communities today. Current participating communities are: Faribault, Mankato, and Winona (2018 cohort) Northfield, Olivia, Wabasha, and Willmar (2019 cohort) Cloquet, Cook, Two Harbors and Mahnomen (2020 cohort). Artists on Main Street is supported by the Bush Foundation.
Stewarded by Springboard for the Arts, the Falls Community Arts Exchange is a collaboration of Fergus Falls-based arts and culture organizations interested in fostering artist-led community development and geographic exchange.
Our Fergus Falls Artist Resource Lab is located in downtown Fergus Falls, on Lincoln Avenue. We offer individual artists and small organizations access to services, equipment, and meeting or event space, in an informal, self-directed environment.