Ignite Rural: DIY Artist Residency at The YES! House | Andrea V. Duarte-Alonso
As part of the evolving support offered through Department of Public Transformation’s Ignite Rural network, the introduction of DIY Artist Residencies at The YES! House creates new space for alumni artists to reconnect with their practice on their own terms.
Building on Ignite Rural’s foundation as an “at-home” residency designed to nurture emerging rural artists and their civic work, this opportunity offers dedicated time, space, and flexibility for deeper creative exploration .
The first artist to step into this new DIY Artist Residency model, Andrea V. Duarte-Alonso, brought with her a practice deeply rooted in storytelling, education, and community connection. A multidisciplinary cultural worker based in rural Minnesota, Andrea’s work centers oral history and the lived experiences of immigrant and BIPOC communities, building spaces for memory, belonging, and collective voice.
During her time at The YES! House, that commitment to story carried through in a quieter, more personal way. As she shared,
“Staying at The Yes! House allowed me to work on projects I haven't been able to dedicate due to my day job. I worked on a variety of things, but most excitedly, I transcribed a special audio from an interview I did over the summer with an awesome artist who is now residing in Guatemala.”
In many ways, her residency reflects the larger arc of her journey, continually returning to people, place, and the power of listening, while carving out intentional time to honor the stories that might otherwise remain unheard.
Explore more about Andrea’s journey in her “Ignite Rural: Where Are They Now?” feature, which can be found by clicking HERE.