FEE: Free to apply

Artist Resources & Relief: Minnesota

In response to ongoing community disruption and its impacts on artists and creative workers across Minnesota, this evolving resource list brings together emergency relief funds, creative business recovery support, calls for artist-led community projects, mutual aid networks, toolkits, and legal resources.

Compiled by Springboard for the Arts in collaboration with arts organizations and community partners statewide, these resources are intended to support artists through immediate challenges and longer-term healing, recovery, and connection. Offerings include emergency and small business relief, opportunities for community-based creative action, mutual aid and solidarity networks, training resources, and practical toolkits.

This list will continue to be updated as new resources become available.

FEE: Free— Registration required

Creative Power, Civic Purpose:
How Artists Strengthen Democracy

Six-Part Virtual Series | 2026

Creative Power, Civic Purpose is a six-part virtual series exploring how artists and culture bearers strengthen civic health, deepen democratic participation, and help renew the civic fabric of communities nationwide. Grounded in civic health frameworks and national conversations around democratic renewal, the series combines field-framing dialogue with practical learning for artists, cultural leaders, civic partners, funders, and community practitioners.

Across six sessions, speakers and facilitators examine the role of arts and culture in civic infrastructure, public understanding of systems, belonging and trust, artist–government collaboration, and funding creative civic work. Registration provides access to all sessions, including calendar holds, Zoom links, updates, and recordings.

Dates & Times (all sessions):
Thursdays, 12:00–1:30 PM (CT)

• Feb 26, 2026

• Mar 26, 2026

• May 28, 2026

• June 25, 2026

• Sept 24, 2026

• Oct 29, 2026

Format: Virtual
Registration: Single registration covers the full series; individual sessions also available

FEE: $25

Call for Artists & Vendors: Pickletoberfest Outdoor Market

Event Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026 Location: Main Avenue, New York Mills, MN

Artists, makers, bakers, and creative businesses are invited to participate in the Outdoor Market at the 3rd Annual NYM Pickletoberfest — a free community celebration hosted by Continental Divide Brew Pub and NYM Cultural Center. Vendor booths are $25 each, first-come, first-served.

To register, call 218-385-3339 or email info@kulcher.org.

FEE: Free to Apply

Call for Artists:
Exhibition Proposals – Carnegie Art Center

Application Deadline: October 25, 2026

The Carnegie Art Center in Mankato is accepting exhibition proposals from Minnesota-based individual artists and collaborative artist groups working in all visual art media.

Open to both emerging and established artists, the Carnegie Art Center welcomes proposals for exhibitions in its three galleries within the historic Carnegie building, as well as satellite exhibition spaces throughout the Mankato community.

As part of its mission to support living, working artists, the Carnegie Art Center is especially interested in proposals from artists representing a broad range of ethnicities, cultural perspectives, and underrepresented communities.

Exhibition proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis by the Carnegie Art Center Gallery Committee, with exhibition schedules typically finalized each November. Selected artists will be contacted directly to discuss exhibition opportunities.

FEE: Free

Creative Community Coffee Club at Springboard for the Arts

Third Friday of Every Month
10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Connect with fellow creatives during Creative Community Coffee Club at Springboard for the Arts in downtown Fergus Falls. Held on the third Friday of each month, this informal gathering offers a welcoming space for artists, makers, writers, and creative entrepreneurs to work alongside one another, share ideas, and build community.

Bring your laptop, busy work, sketchbook, craft project—or simply stop by for conversation. Coffee, light refreshments, and good company are provided.

No registration is required.

Location:
Springboard for the Arts
201 West Lincoln Avenue
Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Coffee & Light Refreshments:
Provided by Stumbeanos Coffee Roasters

FEE: Free | Application Required

New York Mills Arts Retreat Residency

Applications Accepted Year-Round
Deadlines: October 1 (January–June Residencies) | April 1 (July–December Residencies)

The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center invites artists of all disciplines to apply for its Arts Retreat Residency Program, offering dedicated time and space for creative development, research, and reflection in rural Minnesota.

Residencies are available to artists working in visual, literary, performance, audio, and interdisciplinary arts. Lasting two to six weeks, each residency provides free housing in a private one-bedroom bungalow, studio space at the Cultural Center, and wireless internet, allowing artists to focus on their creative practice in a quiet, supportive environment. Artists are responsible for their own transportation and meals.

As part of the residency, participants develop a community outreach project—such as a workshop, reading, performance, or other public program—that connects their creative practice with the New York Mills community.

Artists are selected based on artistic merit, dedication to their craft, commitment to creative growth, and interest in community engagement through the arts.

Application Deadlines:

• October 1 – January through June residencies

• April 1 – July through December residencies

Applications are accepted year-round.

FEE: Free | Call for Artists

Emerging Artist Exhibition Opportunity

Submissions Accepted Now

The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center and Continental Divide Brew Pub invite emerging artists from rural Minnesota to submit artwork for exhibition and sale at the Continental Divide.

This opportunity is designed to help artists expand their audience, build their exhibition experience, connect with fellow creatives, and become part of a growing regional arts community. Artists are encouraged to submit samples of original artwork along with a brief exhibition proposal for consideration.

To Apply:
Submit artwork samples and a brief exhibition proposal to:

• Megan Shirley-Ross, Artistic Director: megan@kulcher.org

• Cyrus Bickell, General Manager: cyrus@cdbpnym.com

Continental Divide Brew Pub
32 N Main Ave, New York Mills, MN 56567

FEE: $25 Booth Fee

Call for Vendors: Black Antler Night Faire

Vendor Applications Now Open

Artists, makers, energy readers, and creative businesses are invited to apply as vendors for the 3rd Annual Black Antler Night Faire on Friday, October 9, 2026, in downtown New York Mills.

The event features a festive evening market celebrating art, creativity, and the mysterious spirit of the season. Indoor booth spaces (approximately 6' × 6') and outdoor booth spaces (10' × 10') are available for $25 each on a first-come, first-served basis. Vendors are responsible for providing their own display materials.

To apply or learn more, contact:

• Emily: emily@kulcher.org

• Cyrus: cyrus@cdbpnym.com

Event Location:
New York Mills Regional Cultural Center & Main Avenue
24 North Main Avenue
New York Mills, MN 56567

FEE: Free

Life Drawing – Open Studio

Fridays | 10:00–11:30 AM

Artists of all experience levels are invited to Life Drawing – Open Studio at the Historic Holmes Theatre in Detroit Lakes.

Life drawing, also known as figure or gesture drawing, focuses on drawing the human form in a variety of poses and levels of detail. These informal Friday morning sessions offer an opportunity to practice your skills, connect with other artists, and learn alongside Artist Facilitators from the Holmes Artist Collective.

Bring your own art supplies. All mediums and experience levels are welcome. No registration is required.

When: Fridays, 10:00–11:30 AM
Location: Holmes Art Cellar, located in the basement of the Historic Holmes Theatre
806 Summit Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

Free and open to all. No registration required.

FEE: Free to Apply

LRAC FY27 Legacy Grant Applications

Application Deadline: Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 5:00 PM

The Lake Region Arts Council (LRAC) is accepting applications for its FY27 Legacy Grant Program, supporting projects that increase Arts Access, Arts Learning, and Arts & Cultural Heritage opportunities throughout LRAC's nine-county service region.

Applications are open for both Individual Legacy Grants and Organization Legacy Grants, with requests ranging from $500 to $12,500.

Individual Legacy Grants

Open to individual artists residing within LRAC's nine-county service region. Funding supports projects that expand opportunities for Minnesotans to create, learn about, and experience the arts and cultural heritage.

Organization Legacy Grants

Open to eligible nonprofit arts organizations, nonprofit organizations, local governments, educational institutions, and qualifying artist groups within the LRAC region. Grants support community-based arts programming, educational opportunities, cultural heritage projects, and other activities that increase public access to the arts.

Projects funded through this program may begin on or after December 16, 2026.

First-time applicants are encouraged to review the program guidelines and contact LRAC staff with questions before applying.

Application Deadline: Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM

Learn More:

• Individual Legacy Grant Guidelines: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/586d9f8ee3df286381b4a20d/t/6a737c3a0ad8ea3499af518d/1785953338814/FY27+Individual+Legacy+Grant+Guidelines.pdf

• Organization Legacy Grant Guidelines: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/586d9f8ee3df286381b4a20d/t/6a737cb267ae632be94852ed/1785953458087/FY27+Legacy+Grant+Guidelines+%281%29.pdf

FEE: FREE

Call for Artists: Lanesboro Arts Sales & Exhibition Galleries

Application Deadline: December 31, 2026

Lanesboro Arts is accepting applications from visual artists in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin for two upcoming gallery opportunities: the 2027 Juried Sales Gallery and 2028 Exhibition Gallery. Artists working in all visual arts media, including both 2-D and 3-D work, are encouraged to apply.

The Juried Sales Gallery currently represents more than 80 artists, with a select number of new artists added each year to exhibit and sell their work. The Exhibition Gallery typically presents five solo or group exhibitions annually, with each exhibition running approximately eight weeks.

Artists are selected based on artistic vision, quality craftsmanship, thought-provoking qualities, diverse representation, and alignment with Lanesboro Arts’ organizational values. A regional artist jury will review applications in January, with applicants notified of decisions in March.

Deadline: December 31, 2026
Eligibility: Visual artists from Minnesota, Iowa & Wisconsin
Location: Lanesboro Arts, 103 Parkway Ave. N., Lanesboro, MN

FEE: FREE

Call for Art: Magical: A Passage to the Extraordinary

Call Opens: September 14, 2026 | Application Deadline: October 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM

What if magic is already around you—not the pulled-from-a-hat kind, but the kind that hides in plain sight?

Lake Region Arts Council is accepting submissions for Magical: A Passage to the Extraordinary, a regional exhibition exploring wonder, mystery, transformation, imagination, symbolism, and the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary.

Artists are invited to interpret “magical” in personal, nuanced, unexpected, whimsical, philosophical, or deeply meaningful ways. Inspiration might come from a landscape that evokes wonder, an extraordinary person, an object infused with meaning, dreams and inner worlds, mythology and storytelling, or the possibilities of magical thinking and imagination.

The call is open to artists ages 18+ living in LRAC’s nine-county service area. All media are welcome, including 2D, 3D and sculptural work, mixed media, multimedia, and installation proposals as space permits. Artist teams of two or three may also apply.

Call Opens: September 14, 2026
Deadline: October 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Exhibition: January 11–March 11, 2027
Opening Reception: January 19, 2027 | 5:00–6:30 PM

FEE: Free to Apply

Call for Art: Magical: A Passage to the Extraordinary

Call Opens: Monday, September 14, 2026 | Deadline: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM

What if magic is already around you? Not the pulled-from-a-hat kind, but the kind that hides in plain sight—the landscape that stops you cold, the object that carries more weight than it should, or the memory that stays.

Lake Region Arts Council invites artists to submit work for Magical: A Passage to the Extraordinary, a regional exhibition exploring wonder, mystery, transformation, imagination, the unseen, the symbolic, and the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary.

Artists are encouraged to interpret “magical” in a personal, nuanced, unexpected, whimsical, philosophical, or deeply meaningful way. Inspiration might be found in places, plants and landscapes; people; objects infused with meaning or mystery; dreams and inner worlds; symbolism and mythology; storytelling; or magical thinking as imagination and possibility.

The call is open to artists ages 18+ living in LRAC’s nine-county service area. All media are welcome, including 2D, 3D and sculptural work, mixed media, multimedia, and installation proposals as space permits. Artist teams of two or three may also apply, and artist statements are encouraged.

Call Opens: September 14, 2026
Application Deadline: October 13, 2026 by 5:00 PM
Artist Notifications: October 26, 2026
Artwork Drop-off: January 4–5, 2027 | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Exhibition: January 11–March 11, 2027
Opening Reception: January 19, 2027 | 5:00–6:30 PM
Artwork Pick-up: March 15–16, 2027 | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM

FEE: Free to Apply

Call for Art: The M Triennial: Held Here

Application Deadline: Sunday, November 15, 2026 | 11:59 PM CST

The Minnesota Museum of American Art (the M) invites Minnesota artists to apply for the inaugural 2027–28 M Triennial: Held Here, a major exhibition bringing together contemporary visual art reflecting the vitality, diversity, complexity, and cultural landscape of Minnesota.

Centered on the theme Held Here, the triennial asks artists to consider connection and belonging at this moment in our shared history: What do we hold onto to heal, endure, thrive, and cultivate a hopeful future? What do we hold in our hands, bodies, histories, hearts, and imaginations—and how do we tend to one another?

Artists working across all media are encouraged to apply, including painting, drawing, printmaking, book arts, sculpture, photography, video, film, installation, performance, sound, textiles, ceramics, and interdisciplinary forms. Approximately 30–40 artists will be selected.

The call is open to visual artists at any career stage who currently reside in Minnesota or have lived in Minnesota during the past year. Artists with significant ancestral, familial, or cultural connections to Minnesota are also invited to apply and describe those connections. Artist teams are welcome.

Applicants may submit up to three completed works, works in progress, and/or proposed artworks. There is no application fee.

Selected artists will receive a $750 honorarium, professional documentation of their exhibited work, inclusion in the exhibition publication, transportation assistance as applicable, professional installation support, and opportunities to participate in related programming.

Call Opens: September 15, 2026
Application Deadline: November 15, 2026 | 11:59 PM CST
Artist Notifications: By February 1, 2027
Exhibition: September 16, 2027–July 30, 2028
Public Reception: September 23, 2027 | 6:00–8:00 PM
Application Fee: None
Questions: info@mmaa.org | 651-797-2571

FEE: Free to Submit

Call for Art: Small Works, Big Impact: An 8 x 8 Fundraising Show

Artwork Drop-Off Deadline: Thursday, November 12, 2026

The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center invites artists of all ages to participate in Small Works, Big Impact: An 8 x 8 Fundraising Show, a special exhibition celebrating creativity in a compact format while raising funds to support the Cultural Center.

Artists working in all media are welcome. Each artwork must measure exactly 8 x 8 inches in height and width, though depth may vary. All work must be original, suitable for public exhibition, ready to hang on a wall, and available for sale.

The exhibition will run concurrently with the Cultural Center’s Annual Artist’s Bazaar, offering participating artists additional visibility during the holiday season. As a fundraising exhibition, artists may choose to donate 50%, 75%, or 100% of the sale price of their work to the Cultural Center.

Artwork Deadline: November 12, 2026
Exhibition: November 14–28, 2026
Closing Reception: Saturday, November 28 | 1:00–3:00 PM
Location: New York Mills Regional Cultural Center
Eligibility: Artists of all ages | All media welcome
Questions: Megan Shirley-Ross | megan@kulcher.org | 218-385-3339

FEE: Registration Required (Starting at $500)

32nd International Sculpture Conference

October 22–25, 2026

The International Sculpture Center presents the 32nd International Sculpture Conference in Minnesota's Twin Cities, bringing together sculptors, artists, educators, curators, and arts professionals from around the world for four days of presentations, discussions, networking, and special events.

Hosted primarily at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD), the conference features keynote speakers, panel discussions, artist presentations, workshops, exhibitions, and opportunities to connect with the international sculpture community. Optional tours and excursions will be offered before and after the main conference program, highlighting the Twin Cities' renowned public art, museums, and cultural destinations.

The majority of conference programming, including registration, keynote presentations, panel discussions, and lunchtime activities, will take place on the MCAD campus.

Location:
Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)
2501 Stevens Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404