About

Located 45 miles from Minneapolis/St. Paul in the scenic St. Croix River Valley, the traditional lands of the Wahpekute people, Franconia Sculpture Park (FSP) operates a 50-acre outdoor museum, a Fellowship program, an emerging artist residency program, robust public programming, and expansive educational initiatives. FSP is a cultural anchor to the Twin Cities with a national reach into contemporary art communities and over 200,000 annual visitors. 

We support Writers, Artist Families, and sculpture and installation artists including land art, ceramics, contemporary craft, experimental sound/music, and performance art. The program and facilities promote a collaborative community, foster new work and intellectual exchange, offer exhibition and presentation opportunities, and provide artists with exposure to the Twin Cities. We encourage experimentation and knowledge-building--whether artists seek to redefine process, reflect social and cultural contexts of our time, or push conceptual or material boundaries. 

Franconia provides a communal residency experience where selected artists live on-site at our 4500 sq. ft. farmhouse. Our facility includes nine private bedrooms, 2.5 shared bathrooms, two kitchens, and common spaces for building lasting connections amongst peers. We provide food, laundry facilities, utilities, and WIFI for artist use. Franconia’s work facilities include an outdoor 10,000 square-foot work pad and individual storage sheds. 

Opened in 2020, Franconia Commons includes the Driscoll Education Center for community workshops, a gift shop, and the Mardag Gallery. See our program calendar for up-to-date public events such as Film@Franconia or Music@Franconia at our Earthen Outdoor Amphitheater.

Visit our website for an overview of all our residency programs.

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2023 Theme                  

Public Art IS Public Health

Franconia has continued to safely host artist residencies throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, recognizing that many artists have lost personal and professional opportunities to thrive. Some have lost income and the potential to earn, while others have lost access to food, housing, and healthcare, impacting physical and mental health. Studies show that outdoor and public art can be especially beneficial for public health in five key areas: collective trauma, racism, mental health, social exclusion and isolation, and chronic disease. Access to public art is critical in supporting healthy communities. 

As such, for our 2023 season Franconia is asking ourselves, our artists, and our audiences how we can collectively move from individual solutions to collaborative acknowledgment and discussion of our bodily and mental well-being through the lens of public art.

Applicants should express an interest in investigating and creating work exploring intersectional impacts between public art and public health. Proposals should address some aspect of public health in their work, including interpreting or recognizing its motifs, assumptions, and relationships to public health. Concepts may include but are not limited to: shared identity and place; racial, structural, and economic inequities; affordable housing; food deserts and community gardens; collective trauma; art created in collaboration with the community; identity and belonging; art as spaces for collective healing; access to quality healthcare and early education; stress and anxiety; mental health and public stigma.

Application Fees

$25 for all except $15 for Alumni  

(Fees will be adjusted and reflected through the application process)