Location: Shafer, Minnesota, United States

Mission: Franconia Sculpture Park (Franconia) is a non-profit organization with a mission, “To provide an inspiring environment for artists to expand their skills and promote the public education of three-dimensional art.”  The artist programs provide the space for emerging and mid-career artists to live, create, and exhibit three-dimensional artwork in the rural 30-acre sculpture park.  While in-residence, artists are encouraged to challenge themselves to achieve new visions, work on a massive scale generally unattainable in an indoor studio or exhibition space, and engage with the public as they are creating new work.

Franconia also supports an Intern Artist Program and Iron Artist Program.

Cost: Fellowship artists contribute $75/wk toward room and board. Fellows receive a stipend of $4k – $5k to support their time in residence and the creation of new artwork.

Artwork created during the fellowship will be included in Franconia’s outdoor exhibition for a minimum of 1 year.

Number of Artists: Up to 10 fellows per year, plus 12 intern artists and 12 iron artists annually

Accommodations:  Franconia is located in rural Minnesota, USA on 30-acres of restored natural prairie with 105 sculptures on exhibit throughout the park.  All studios and work areas are open-air.  There are barns and sheds for artists to store tools and equipment.  Onsite room and board is available for all fellows and interns in a 9-bedroom, 2.5 bathroom farmhouse.  The creative community is fostered through the interaction of emerging and established artists in a communal working and living environment.  Artists with families are welcome.  Click here to read more about Franconia’s facilities, equipment, and living/working environment.

Studio space in the 7,000 sq. ft. outdoor work area is shared by all artists-in-residence. Most tools and equipment needed to produce large-scale artwork is available (Covered workspace with bridge crane, Five 18’–20’ gantries with chain hoists, Steel work tables, Barn and four small sheds for tool storage).

Tools and Equipment: 10-ton forklift, 3-ton crane truck, Pick-up truck and 18’ trailer, Welders (MIG & Stick), Metal chop saw, grinders, safety equipment, 100# & 300# cupolette furnaces, Wood band saw, table saw, jigsaws, Drill presses, battery-powered drills, Consumables for purchase.

Franconia is a public park, fellows interact with the public on a daily basis and are expected to participate in community programming during their residency

Length of Stay: Minimum of 3 weeks, between April 1, 2014 and September 15, 2014

Demographic/Medium: Emerging and mid-career artists working in three-dimensions are encouraged to apply.

Benefits: Fellows receive $4K to $5K to support their time in-residence and the creation of new artwork.  While in-residence, fellows receive technical expertise, staff support, intern assistance, and access to equipment to produce large-scale artwork.  Artists are exposed to Franconia’s network of artist alumni and patron audience.  While on exhibition in the sculpture park, artwork is viewed by 60,000+ people every year.  The community building aspect of the residency programs helps artists develop invaluable professional network that sparks future projects and collaborations, propels academic opportunities, provides meaningful peer feedback, and establishes lifelong relationships.

Deadline: February 8, 2014

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