Ignite Rural Program Director Reflection
From left to right: Ignite Rural 2024-2025 Cohort, Boatemaa Adoawaa Han Mee Agyeman-Mensah, Bernadine Stevens, Cai Fisher, Markie Bear Eagle, Reyna Hernandez, (not pictured: Austin Kasto), and Ignite Rural Program Director Holly Doll, Anpao Win (First Light Woman).
In this reflection, Ignite Rural Program Director, Holly Doll, Anpao Win (First Light Woman), shares what she’s learned guiding three cohorts of rural artists through an eight-month residency. From offering unrestricted financial support and wellness resources to facilitating both virtual gatherings and in-person retreats, the program has sought to nurture creativity, resilience, and community.
Through storytelling, challenges, and moments of transformation, this piece highlights how investing in artists not only supports individual growth, but also strengthens rural places as centers of culture, connection, and collaboration.
In what ways did the $4,000 creative fund, $8,000 living stipend, and $800 art/wellness fund impact artists’ ability to pursue their work and community engagement?
Having access to unrestricted funding and funding to support daily living and wellness is a game changer. With this type of funding, artists are able to comfortably take a breather from life and focus on what it is they need to thrive, which in turn boosts their creativity. Nurturing and supporting basic needs creates a foundation for people to feed their passions and create ripple effects that are felt out and in community.
How effective were the virtual gatherings combined with in-person retreats in fostering connectivity and collaboration among geographically dispersed artists?
Holding the first in-person retreat at the beginning of the program has helped with networking building immensely. It gives the artists the chance to meet, talk organically, share meals and space together, this is irreplaceable when fostering connectivity. Having the artists meet first made virtual spaces feel more organic and the coming together again at the end of the program for the Artist Showcase is always very exciting.
Can you share a specific example of how an artist deepened connections with their local community through this residency, whether through public programming, workshops, or collaborative events?
Yes! Suree Sompamitwong from Ignite Rural’s first cohort used her time in the program to collaborate with community members to create art pieces addressing mental health issues then turned it into a clothing line, even encouraging the artists to model their own pieces. Suree has always been so passionate about advocating using art as a healing practice and it led her to creating Creative Healing Space, an intentional safe space that utilizes art as a form of healing and community building. Through Creative Healing Space, Suree offers the community of Worthington, MN art therapy, creative writing sessions, trauma informed dancing, and more. Suree has inspired me from the very first moment we talked and I’m so proud to see how much she’s grown since meeting her.
What notable creative growth or shifts did you observe in one or more artists over the course of the residency, especially as they balance emerging practice with civic/social roles?
Not sure if this is a “creative” shift but it is definitely growth. One of the first things I noticed when stepping into this role and getting to work 1:1 with the artists in the program is their comfort levels around calling themselves “artists”. Identifying as an artist takes confidence and beyond that, identifying as an artist who works at the intersection of creativity and community takes some time to embrace. Needing to build confidence around this has shown up to varying degrees in each of the cohorts. I found that simply believing in, trusting in, and celebrating the work they do boosts them so much. Recognition goes a long way for folks! Most of the artists have left the program feeling much more confident in their creativity and identity as artists.
How did engagement with the Ignite Rural Advisory Committee and check‑ins shape program direction and artist support?
Ah, the Ignite Rural Advisory Committee! I’m so grateful to this team for guiding and supporting me through the growth of Ignite Rural. Being able to go to them for guidance, support, and questions was vital in building my own confidence around Ignite Rural. Having a team of artists, culture bearers, and community leaders to ground me is something I’m beyond grateful for, I contribute a lot of this program’s success to them. They bring a wealth of knowledge that helped me continually tweak the design of Ignite Rural to what it is today.
From hosting the Artist Showcase, what stood out to you, both in terms of artist work and audience response?
I have so many favorite moments surrounding the Artist Showcases! Celebrating the artists is always fun but witnessing them celebrate themselves and each other is the most heartwarming part of the program. We were able to host the Showcase for the second and third cohorts and one of my favorite things both of these cohorts did at the showcase is applaud each other after every answer during the Artist Talk portion. The support and care they show each other is so sweet! Beyond the artists, I think dedicating space for events like this, especially in rural communities, is vital. It serves as a bridging moment for community members to learn about artists and the work they do. It’s also a great moment to embrace representation, for community members to be in spaces where artists of color are uplifted and to celebrate how unique a community can look.
How do you define success for Ignite Rural, both for individual artists and the program overall? Which key indicators (e.g., community impact, new work, networks formed) best reflect that success?
I could go on about numbers and data around what “success” looks like but I won’t. Instead I’ll say that I define success as seeing the artists grow throughout their time in the program. Either in confidence, in learning a new skill or medium, in completing a project, in expanding their network, anything! I believe that having a program dedicated simply to the support and growth of individuals is a successful thing itself to celebrate. Simply investing, believing, and trusting in artists to determine what they need to grow has proven to work through Ignite Rural. Artists who have gone through this program have gone on to create nonprofits, publish books, be invited to film festivals, and more! Having a program that centers well-being and nurturing helps create solid foundations for people to believe in themselves and that’s plenty successful in my eyes.
Based on this 2024–2025 cycle, what are your plans for future iterations of Ignite Rural? Are there changes, expansions, or strategic shifts you’re considering?
Due to funding constraints, we are unable to host another full cohort for 2025-2026. Instead, we’re taking this time to look back at the 3 cohorts and 18 artists we’ve connected with and do more intentional relationship building. This will look like some professional development workshops offered to alumni, free of cost of course, some virtual gathering spaces where all the cohorts can “meet” and build connections, and some storytelling! We’re hoping to do a Where Are They Now? Series that’ll feature alumni, what they’ve been up to, and where they’re going. We’re also aiming to offer some public webinars in early 2026, so keep an eye out for this announcement!
What was the most challenging part of directing this program, and how did it stretch or change you as a leader?
Ah, this is a good question! When working with people, there’s always a chance that tension or conflict arises. Either through personality conflicts, miscommunication, or whatever, there’s always a chance. I’ve always been a pretty nonconfrontational and avoidant person so needing to step into a position of mediator occasionally has been interesting. It definitely strengthened my communication skills and deepened my understanding of boundaries for myself, the program, and others. And centering the fact that I do genuinely care for the people this program touches is a good foundation to build on when having these conversations. Finding that balance between gentle yet firm is a skill I continually work on!
How has working so closely with these rural artists shaped your own understanding of creative resilience and community care?
I’m no stranger to working with artists or community so honestly stepping into this program felt natural. Ignite Rural is a program that definitely feeds my soul in the sense that I find solidarity in the fact that there are people out there who want to create change and support the healing of communities. Prior to working with DoPT, I often felt lonely doing this work and now being able to meet with all of these amazing folks who do amazing things has helped my own worldview expand and grow more hopeful. It’s something that I often look to and rely on when times are tough.
How did you stay grounded during the eight months of program facilitation, especially when balancing logistics with emotional and relational labor?
If you know me, then you know that I tend to stay busy and juggle multiple projects and programs. The juggling, although sometimes a bit much, does actually help with keeping me grounded. It keeps my perspective wide and open. It also helps that I’m the type of person who loves learning and feedback from the people who go through my programs. Check-ins, feedback, events, etc all help keep me moving forward or build out new ideas. What really helps too is having a great working relationship with my DoPT colleagues, especially Ash and Hannah. When I get too overwhelmed, being able to go to them is always incredibly helpful. I have definitely learned to lean on others when I need to and am thankful they let me!
In what ways did this experience shift how you think about rural place, not just as a setting, but as a collaborator or force within the artistic process?
Two words: relational and resilience! Rural spaces are severely underfunded in philanthropy and this harmful practice has placed constraints on artists and yet I’ve seen firsthand how it inspires artists to drive forward some of the most authentic practices. Resiliency shows through in the ability to adapt, work with what’s available, and create art that is deeply intertwined with place. Beyond that, rural places rely on relationships! Relationships to community members, fellow artists, the land, and the histories it all carries. This all comes together to shape the stories of both artists and rural places.
Was there a story, interaction, or artistic project that you find yourself returning to often in your mind, and why do you think that is?
A short and sweet one! After this most recent cohort’s Artist Showcase was completed and we were saying our “see you soons!”, a couple of the artists shared how nice it was to see each other again and one artist said “it feels like a family reunion!” and I loved that. Ignite Rural is predominantly a virtual program, with two in-person elements. A retreat at the beginning and then the Artist Showcase at the end. Hearing them share their wishes to meet again made me feel happy because one of the goals of this program is relationship building, which isn’t always the easiest in virtual settings. It just solidified for me the importance of the in-person elements of the program and more importantly, building in time where the artists can connect in informal and authentic ways. Seeing the artists connect has been quite fulfilling for me!
If you could go back and whisper something to yourself at the beginning of the program, what would you say?
That it’s okay to learn as you go too! I always talk a lot about supporting the growth of early career artists through Ignite Rural but to stop and take a moment to let myself realize that directing this program has contributed greatly to my own personal and professional growth is something to be proud of and not be so hard on myself.
Looking ahead, what part of this work, this cohort, this season, do you think will stay with you for years to come?
All of it! This is a hard question to answer because there are many things from each season Ignite Rural has gone through that I still reflect on to this day. I carry this with me in all of my other work! Ignite Rural has definitely made itself at home in my heart and I’m better for it.
Ignite Rural Program Director, Holly Doll, Anpao Win (First Light Woman)
As Ignite Rural continues to evolve, the impact of its artists and the communities they serve is a powerful reminder of the role creativity plays in shaping rural futures.
None of this work would be possible without the vision, care, and leadership of our Program Director, Holly Doll, Anpao Win (First Light Woman).
A heartfelt thank you to Holly for her dedication in guiding this journey and for championing the voices of rural artists every step of the way.
Ignite Rural is an “at-home” artist residency focused on uplifting and supporting rural artists who engage in social/civic work and are in the early stages of their artistic practice. Click here to learn more about the program.