Upcoming Calls for Entry
Waterways Exhibition
Anderson Center invites submissions in any medium for a juried group exhibition, Waterways. This show will feature artwork that considers or reflects on rivers and the other bodies of water that are foundational to human life. Artists working in media that some have considered “craft,” as well as artists working with traditional “fine” art media are all encouraged and invited to apply. Application deadline is May 28 at noon Central Time. Exhibition will take place August 30 - November 15, 2025 in Gallery Three.
Winter Retreats in January 2026
The Anderson Center’s Winter Retreat program is a short-term residency during the organization’s off-season for artists and writers seeking concentrated creative time for reflection and the advancement of their personal artistic goals. A Winter Retreat at the Anderson Center is a fee-based opportunity for up to four artists at a time to live in community and fellowship while working on their own projects in the inspiring setting of the historic Tower View Estate.
The Anderson Center will be accepting applications for sessions of 1 to 4 weeks in duration from Wednesday, December 31 to Tuesday, January 27, 2026. The weekly rate for a Winter Retreat at the Anderson Center is $650. Practicing artists of all backgrounds and at any stage of their career are encouraged to apply. Notification of acceptance or wait list status will be sent by email on a rolling basis as applications are received. A deposit is required upon acceptance. Applications will close when all weeks are filled.
July 2026 Minnesota - Salzburg Artist Exchange
In partnership with Stadt-Salzburg, this program is an opportunity in July 2026 for visual artists living within the State of Minnesota to participate in a 4-week individual artist residency at the Künstlerhaus in Salzburg, Austria.
Thanks to support from the City of Salzburg, the selected visual artist receives a live-in studio for one month at the Künstlerhaus and a 600 Euro stipend for food. Travel expenses to Salzburg and back to Minnesota are not covered. Application deadline is 12 p.m. Noon (Central Standard Time) on Friday, November 14, 2025. Selected artists, wait-list, and runners-up will be notified by January 5, 2026 at the latest.
2026 General Artist Residency Program
The Anderson Center at Tower View's Artist Residency Program is an opportunity in June, July, August and October 2026 for early career, mid-career, and established artists working across all disciplines and based anywhere in the world. The program is interdisciplinary and the organization welcomes applications from a wide range of creative and intellectual genres, including those that don't fit neatly into one category.
Selected artists receive live/work space, fellowship & exchange within a 5-artist cohort, chef-prepared meals, and more. Application deadline is 12 p.m. Noon (Central Standard Time) on Jan. 13, 2026. Selected artists, wait-list, and runners-up will be notified by March 3, 2026. Applications are juried by a panel of professionals working in the field and former residents. There is only one application deadline for all available residencies in June, July, August, and October.
2026 Early Career Artist Residency Program
The Early Career Artist Residency Program is an opportunity for early-career artists living within the state of Minnesota or one of the five boroughs of New York City in need of focused time and dedicated space in an inspiring residency work environment that empowers them take risks, embrace challenges, and utilize unconventional approaches to problem-solving.
Thanks to support from the Jerome Foundation, a month-long cohort of five artists will each receive a $625/week stipend, a travel honorarium, documentation support, and more. Application deadline is 12 p.m. Noon (Central Standard Time) on Jan. 13, 2026. Selected artists, wait-list, and runners-up will be notified by March 3, 2026.
2026 Deaf Artists Residency Program
The Anderson Center’s Deaf Artists Residency (DAR) is an opportunity for 4 Deaf artists to come together in an ASL-centric environment to create, communicate and exchange ideas.
The program was created in 2014 to enact the vision of a Deaf visual artist, Cynthia Weitzel, who designed the program. The panelists who select residents are all accomplished Deaf Artists, some of which are also past residents.
This biennial program is returning in 2026. Applications will be available in fall of 2025 with a deadline in January 2026.
ON-GOING RFPs/RFQs and FESTIVAL or EXHIBITION CALLS FOR ENTRY
The Anderson Center facilitates RFQs and RFPs and also presents gallery exhibitions and events, such as the Red Wing Area Studio Tour, throughout the year at the historic Tower View campus. Any open calls for both artworks and artists are also sometimes posted below, along with residency opportunities.
The Anderson Center provides equal opportunity for all people to participate in and benefit from the activities of the Center, regardless of race; national origin; color; age; religion; gender; sexual orientation; disability, in admission, access, or employment. Please call before applying to discuss accommodations.
Anderson Center invites submissions in any medium for a juried group exhibition, Waterways. This show will feature artwork that considers or reflects on rivers and the other bodies of water that are foundational to human life. Artists working in media that some have considered “craft,” as well as artists working with traditional “fine” art media are all encouraged and invited to apply.
Special consideration will be given to local artists living and/or working within 20 miles of the Anderson Center at Tower View, and to former Anderson Center artists-in-residence.
Exhibition timeline (all in 2025)
May 28: Application deadline at noon Central Time
June 27: Decisions sent to all applicants
August 1 – 18: Work delivery window
August 30 – November 15: Exhibition on view
Friday, September 26, 6-8 pm: Artist Reception
November 17 – December 10: Deinstallation and return of work
About the Anderson Center
Anderson Center at Tower View is celebrating 30 years of service to the national arts and humanities community and the citizens of Minnesota. Founded in 1995, the organization has grown into one of the North's top artistic destination points. Anderson Center is based at Tower View, a grand national registered historic landmark and a rare, rural oasis for creative work in the scenic Mississippi River town of Red Wing, Minnesota. The organization celebrates the imagination and supports the development of new arts and ideas through residencies, studios, and public engagement.
About the Gallery/Specifications
The exhibition will take place in the Anderson Center’s Gallery Three. This gallery is approximately 1,100 square feet with plywood-backed sheetrock on the north, east, and west walls and natural light coming from the south. The gallery contains LED track-lighting, has a variety of small and mid-sized pedestals available, and has some ability to hang artworks weighing 40 lbs or less from the ceiling. The gallery has 50” TV screens available for wall-mounting, 4 Micca Spark Media Players, and up to 4 pairs of headphones available. Each wall has access to one or two wall outlets.
Exhibition Requirements
Artists are responsible for delivering and picking up work within the drop-off/pick-up timeframes above, or making and covering costs for shipping of work in the same timeframes. All work must be installation-ready when delivered, including frames with hanging wires and any specialty hardware required. Framing, mounting, and display techniques should meet professional exhibition standards. Anderson Center will handle installation.
Submitted works must be 100 inches tall or less, and able to fit through a door that is 82 inches high by 34 inches wide. Works must weigh less than 60 pounds.
Anderson Center encourages, but does not require, works to be available for sale. The Anderson Center’s commission is 35% (25% for members). Work will be insured while at the Anderson Center for either the artists portion of the sale price (if for sale) or an insurance value stipulated by the artist (if not for sale). Artists are responsible for insurance while in transit to the Center.
Artists submitting work to the Anderson Center retain all copyright to their work but agree to grant the Anderson Center a non-exclusive license to reproduce images in order to promote and document the exhibition.
Submission Process
Each artist or collaboration may submit up to 5 different works. The application asks for contact information, an artist statement of one page or less, a bio or CV of one page or less, and an image, title, media, and dimensions for the work. Space to note special considerations, installation needs, and/or additional information is available, but only if necessary to understand the work or plan for its installation.
Images may be submitted as jpegs or pdfs. If the artist wishes to submit detail shots, please combine all images of the work onto a single page of a PDF.
The Anderson Center’s Winter Retreat program is a short-term residency during the organization’s off-season for artists and writers seeking concentrated creative time for reflection and the advancement of their personal artistic goals. A Winter Retreat at the Anderson Center is a fee-based opportunity for up to four artists at a time to live in community and fellowship while working on their own projects in the inspiring setting of the historic Tower View Estate.
The Anderson Center is currently accepting applications for sessions of 1 to 4 weeks in duration in January 2026. Arrival takes place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each Wednesday and includes a short orientation. Check out is by 10 a.m. on Tuesdays. Spaces are rented on a first come, first serve basis and acceptance is made at the discretion of staff. There is a $30 application fee. Application or participation in a Winter Retreat in no way affects eligibility or selection for other Anderson Center Residency Programs.
Practicing artists of all backgrounds and at any stage of their career are encouraged to apply. A self-paced Winter Retreat may be a good fit for artists & writers who need time away from daily responsibilities and distractions to focus on a creative project, visual artists needing access to the Anderson Center’s specific studio facilities, or educators seeking focused creative time during a winter break or sabbatical. A Winter Retreat is also an ideal opportunity for collaborating artists to advance a project or work alongside one another at Tower View.
If you have any questions about Winter Retreats, please contact Program Director Laurel Stinson at 651-388-2009 x4.
RATES, ACCOMMODATIONS, & AMENITIES
The weekly rate for a Winter Retreat at the Anderson Center is $650. A 10% discount is offered to local artists living within Goodhue County, Minnesota. A 50% deposit is due upon acceptance with the balance due at arrival. If you are accepted your $30 application fee will be applied to your deposit. Acceptance or wait list notifications and confirmation of dates will be emailed beginning October 15. Deposits are non-refundable.
A Winter Retreat in the Historic Tower View Residence includes a private bedroom and a private bathroom, along with access to a fully equipped kitchen, laundry room, living room, dining room, and several common spaces. Bedrooms are equipped with either a king bed, full bed, or twin beds; a desk, a dresser, a large closet, and a comfortable chair.
Linens and towels are provided. The house is cleaned weekly. Couples are welcome and may share bedroom/studio if desired (weekly rate applies to each person). Children and pets (except for certified service animals) are unable to be accommodated during Winter Retreats.
The Granary Printmaking Studio (with a Vandercook 219 letterpress and Charles Brand-like etching press) is available for Winter Retreats for $150/week. The fee for a 15' x 26' visual art studio in the North Studios complex (with a sink, heater, easels, and tables) is $100/week.
The Anderson Center does not supply paper or any visual art supplies. Residents are generally expected to bring supplies and tools with them, or have supplies sent to the Center prior to arrival. All Winter Retreat participants should be able and willing to work independently.
Dancers and choreographers interested in using the Tower View Barn for movement work are encouraged to inquire with staff regarding availability and rates. Musicians and composers interested in utilizing the Tower View Barn (and its Grand Royale piano) are likewise encouraged to make a special request about rates and availability.
The Anderson Center does not hire a chef for Winter Retreats and no meals or groceries are provided. Participating writers and artists are expected to do their own grocery shopping and their own cooking in the fully equipped kitchen. There are numerous grocery stores, gourmet shops and restaurants nearby.
Artists are responsible for their own transportation. Given the time of year, Tower View’s location, and that no food is provided, participating artists and writers are required to have their own car with them.
CANCELLATION / REFUND POLICY
Deposits are not refundable.
VACCINATION and CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY
Prior to arrival, all artists are sent a Retreat Handbook outlining many items related to daily life, including the most current safety policies and protocols. The organization's goal is to balance standard public health policies and clear expectations while also highlighting areas where communication or flexibility within each cohort might be beneficial or needed.
The Anderson Center Residency Program trusts that artists know what they need most to advance their individual practices and how best to use their time to benefit their own work and reach their own goals. Likewise, artists are empowered to collectively make changes where appropriate and ultimately build the artist community they'd like to see.
At the same time, and as is outlined in the Retreat Handbook, the Anderson Center is committed to supporting artists by creating a safe space for their residency experience. As such, the organization requires all participating Winter Retreat artists to read and agree to our code of conduct.
Of course even with all of these precautions, by simply participating in the retreat program with other artists, there is an inherent risk of exposure, even for vaccinated persons, that is beyond the ability of the Anderson Center to control entirely. By applying to this program you are communicating that you are comfortable with that risk. A communicable disease risk acknowledgement and liability waiver is included in the retreat agreement.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The Anderson Center provides equal opportunity for all people to participate in and benefit from the activities of the Center, regardless of race, national origin, color, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, in admission, access, or employment. The Anderson Center staff is willing to do what they can to accommodate residents with disabilities. Please call before applying to discuss special needs.