Community Artist in Residence Program
Granite Falls, MN
ARTIST CALL
Transatlantic Rising Stars Program
April 5–May 31, 2027 | Granite Falls, Minnesota
Seeking a Mid-Career Visual Artist Within 45 Miles of Granite Falls
Meet our current community artist in residence!
Zoe Pudil
Zoe Pudil is a multimedia artist, writer, and educator based in Marshall, Minnesota.
They are currently an undergraduate student at Southwest Minnesota State University where they are majoring in English Creative Writing and pursuing a second interdisciplinary major in Business and Studio Arts. They are currently President and Cover Designer of Perceptions, SMSU’s student literary journal.
Zoe's work explores mental and physical health, disability, and the ways people navigate or are unable to navigate the world around them. Their work often conveys the moments that are difficult to express.
Zoe has a passion for community-based art and creative education. Since May 2024, they have taught a weekly creative writing workshop at Avera’s Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit where they teach patients ways to use writing as a tool for self-expression, reflection, and connection.
In 2026, they had the opportunity to paint native Minnesota wildflowers and had the designs printed as greeting cards for the Lyon County Master Gardeners. The cards were sold at the Lyon County Master Gardener plant sale with all the proceeds going back into community projects.
They believe that art and creativity can create accessible spaces for people to tell their stories, connect with others, and make meaning from their experiences.
Current programme overview
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September
On Tuning In- You can't tell a story you haven't been paying attention to. It’s about relearning to listen to yourself, your surroundings, and the moments we miss in the busyness of life. Come learn ways to turn your attention into creative material!
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October
Banish Your Creative Demons- This spooky season we're facing creative demons. They haunt your creativity with self-doubt, perfectionism, or fear of failure. We're banishing them by getting messy on purpose.
Spooky Storytelling- Join Jessie Hennen and I for an evening of spine-chilling storytelling. If you dare, bring a story to tell or simply listen to the haunting tales your community members carry.
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November
As It Unfolds- A story doesn't need to be finished to be told. We'll explore the emotional and physical benefits of writing through poetry, journaling, and other nonfiction forms. We will write, reflect, and tell our own stories as they unfold.
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December
Without Words- Not every story needs to be told in sentences.We'll explore collage, zine making, and art as tools for storytelling. Expect to get messy as you use your creativity and curiosity to tell a story without words.
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January
Building Creative Habits- Creativity doesn't require the perfect schedule, or a finished project, or the right materials. It just needs a little time in your day. We will explore daily art or writing practices to help build creative habits that fit into real life.
SPONSORS
/Past Projects/
Components of a Collaborative Community Program Design include:
Community Artist - 2-6 month residency, embedding in, working with and serving the community of Granite Falls MN
Local Host: Granite Area Arts Council (GAAC) - “Building Community Through Art”
The City as a Partner - sharing insight into town initiatives and municipal structure, staff hours and resources, local knowledge, financial partner, information access, program design oversight, and an office in City Hall.
Community Partner Organizations - community support, fundraising partners, institutional knowledge, volunteer hours, bridge building, connection, local materials, youth & elder engagement, and sharing resources together.
Advisory Board - an active, diverse and apolitical board of local community members, working together to select the artist and advise the staff on the current and potential futures of the program. This is a critical component to a healthy and effective program: the Board functions as community voice and oversight, guiding the ship of the program to serve community wants and needs.
Support Staff - efficient, accountable, paid part-time cohort devoted to serving the community and the program, building a sustainable future for both, and sharing information openly with anyone and everyone.
The Community! - a community artist program requires by definition community participation and feedback.