Falls Arts Exchange - Springboard For The Arts

Falls Community Arts Exchange 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) Project mentorship from Springboard staff DIY Exchange Our DIY Exchange invites artists to visit Fergus Falls on their own timeline. Artists are invited to apply for stays ranging from 2-14 days on a rolling basis. Benefits for the DIY Exchange include: Sliding scale registration fees starting at $50 / night Lodging and workspace in a cozy, one-bedroom apartment above Springboard’s offices in downtown Fergus Falls A creative community ecosystem tour and conversation with Springboard staff Support connecting to local artists and organizations Partners We’re delighted to partner with the Fergus Falls Public Library, Outstate Brewing, and Victor Lundeen Company for our 2026-27 Exchange. Past Exchange Partners include Kaddatz Galleries, The Creation Shop, Otter Cove Children’s Museum, SAGA Youth, the Fergus Falls School of Dance, and Stella’s Restaurant. Opportunities DIY Exchange Currently accepting applications for stays between December 2026-March 2027. 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. Request your stay 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? We are currently only accepting applications for the DIY Exchange Program. This 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). The Project Based Exchange applications closed in February 2026. We anticipate opening a new application round in December 2026, for exchanges taking place in 2027. Who is eligible to apply for the Falls Exchange? To be eligible for the DIY Exchange, you must: Be at least 21 years of age. Participate in the Exchange with an arts and culture related purpose (you will state this in your request form). To be eligible for the Project Based Exchange, you must: Be at least 21 years of age. Live in the United States. Live at least 50 miles distance from Fergus Falls, MN. Not be an employee or board member of Springboard for the Arts (note: independent contractors are eligible to apply). Not be an immediate family member of a Springboard staff or board member. 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. Related Stories Falls Community Arts Exchange: Connecting Place, People, and Possibility By Springboard for the Arts Falls Community Arts Exchange: Making Clay Creatures with Sonja Madsen and the Creation Shop By Mary Olson Falls Community Arts Exchange: Otter Cove Mayoral Elections with Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns By Mary Olson More