Granite Falls City Artist-in-Residence
City Artist-in-Residence Program (CAIR) is an artist-led organization that works locally and relationally to develop creative strategies for increased community connection, civic pride, and equitable participation in rural places. The organization believes in the power of rural creativity in activating solutions to address community challenges. Collaboration with local artists, residents, and community champions on deeply place-based projects is crucial for the organization to keep the core values at the heart.
The City of Granite Falls and the Department of Public Transformation have launched the Granite Falls City Artist in Residence (CAIR) program - the first of its kind in a small-sized town in the country - fostering cultural work that sits at the intersection of civic, social, and place-based practice in a rural setting. The program is currently accepting applications from interested local, regional, and national artists to be embedded in the City of Granite Falls (pop. 2,897) for 6-12 months to design and implement arts and cultural strategies to increase civic participation and community engagement in City policy-making, planning and public processes. Program and application details are available online. Applications are due by April 26th at 11:59pm CST.
The City Artist-in-Residence will collaborate with Department of Public Transformation (DoPT) and the City staff on projects that center on the following objectives:
- use arts, design, cultural strategies, and civic / social practices to help City departments with their current projects and initiatives;
- design and implement creative strategies to connect City systems and the community, including new approaches for community engaged policy-making, planning, and practice;
- enhance the City’s approach to community engagement, including working effectively with traditionally underserved and underrepresented community members;
- help connect the City with experienced local community artists, designers, and cultural workers; and
- assist with documentation and evaluation of the CAIR program.
The CAIR will be provided with a work station at City Hall, and access to public gathering spaces and studios at The YES! House, operated by DoPT.
The CAIR will be provided with a fully furnished 1-bedroom apartment and will be supported in their residency by staff at the local artist-led non-profit, the Department of Public Transformation (DoPT) and the CAIR Welcoming Committee. CAIRs are welcome to relocate their partners, family, and / or well-behaved pets during their residency period, however, it should not be forgotten that the living space is limited to a one-bedroom apartment. CAIR does not host groups but only individual artists.
The community of Granite Falls, MN (pop. 2,897) is nestled on the banks of the Minnesota River among the gneiss and granite outcroppings of the meandering Minnesota River Valley. The town was settled on traditional Dakota land; it now neighbors the Upper Sioux Community and is the County Seat of Yellow Medicine County (including Chippewa and Renville County in its geographic boundaries). Since its settlement, Granite Falls has been home to a largely agricultural community and has deep ties to the legacy of the cooperative movement - both of which have helped sustain a strong local business economy. Area schools include the Yellow Medicine School District and Minnesota West Technical College. Over the past decade, Granite Falls has seen a renaissance led by its commitment to and support of the arts, small businesses, and outdoor recreation.