Daily Yonder: Using Art to Bridge the Rural-Urban Divide
By The Daily Yonder
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 1 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.
Falls Exchange partners have included: The Kaddatz Galleries, The Creation Shop, Otter Cove Children’s Museum, SAGA Youth, the Fergus Falls School of Dance, and Stella’s Restaurant.
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