An Opportunity for Artists to Collaborate and Produce New Work!
An show attendee interacts with one of the projects from the 2024 North Louisiana Arts Interchange Exhibit.
Program Overview
The North Louisiana Arts Interchange is open to visual artists in the United States with preference given to artists based in Louisiana and surrounding states. Each year’s cohort is made up of a unique mix of artists who are lead through various exercises and conversations that lead them to a summer of collaboration, ultimately ending in an exhibit in Ruston, LA.
What is the North Louisiana Arts Interchange About?
The Arts Interchange program originated during the COVID-19 pandemic when the arts community in Ruston, Louisiana, came together to keep artists connected despite physical isolation. In 2022, the Ross Lynn Charitable Foundation launched the North Louisiana Arts Interchange project in partnership with the North Central Louisiana Arts Council, supported by a Project Grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts. The inaugural year of Arts Interchange was a bold experiment that challenged artists from Louisiana and neighboring states, resulting in numerous inspiring works of art and fostering strong relationships among the participants. In 2021, RLCF affirmed its dedication to the initiative by establishing Arts Interchange as an annual program offering.
In its current form, Arts Interchange is described as a “baby residency,” allowing artists to step out of their regular practices and explore new experiences without significantly disrupting their daily lives. The program accommodates practicing artists, educators, students, and aspiring full-time artists, enabling them to fit the activities into their weekly schedules while maintaining their other commitments. For emerging and younger artists, Arts Interchange offers an opportunity to expand their practices and build valuable connections with fellow artists. For more seasoned participants, the program provides a refreshing break, allowing them to explore new ideas and collaborations that can reinvigorate their creative practices.
The program has a cost to artists of $75 ($25 application fee and $50 program fee). These fees directly fund a portion of the program's stipends, activity costs, and speaker honorariums with RLCF's operating budget and sponsors making the difference and covering other expenses like staff pay and admin expenses. Scholarship funding is available for artists who are not able to pay more than the application fee. There will be an option to request support once accepted.
At its core, Arts Interchange brings together eight artists to talk, play, and collaborate, fostering a deeper understanding of one another and themselves. Through this experience, the program aims to leave participants with new friendships, innovative ideas, and a renewed relationship with their art.
2024 Cohort - (back row, left to right) Lindsay Carraway, Taryn Davidson, brooke cassady, Don Graham Jr. (front row, left to right) Keagan Vaghan, Morgan McCullin, Sarah Dupree, Daniela “Dani” Capistrano.
2023 Cohort - (left to right) Daniel Myers, Callan Thornton, Jennifer Robison, Clifton Haacker, Jessica Ray, Robrecas “Drék” Davis, Seth Guera, (not pictured: Cullen Breaux).
Each year’s cohort is made up of artists from various locations and stages of their art journey. It is the unique mix of individuals that contributes to the experience’s impact!
The program culminates in a seven week long exhibit of the works produced by the participants. The exhibit is hosted in Downtown Ruston, Louisiana.
The Arts Interchange Program offers a dynamic platform for creativity, collaboration, and artistic growth. Here's a detailed breakdown of its schedule and structure:
Program Overview:
Beginning and End Dates: March 16 – September 11, 2026
In Person Meetup Event:
When: March 21, 2026
Where: Gilbert Center, Ruston, Louisiana
Purpose: Participants meet each other, explore the gallery space, and engage in a discussion about the program.
Weekly Online Meetings:
Duration: March 16 – June 1, 2026 (11 weeks)
Frequency: Mondays at 6:00 PM (Central Time)
Format:
Weeks 1–7: Participants meet weekly on Zoom to:
Engage in collaborative activities, discussions, and hear from guest speakers.
Complete weekly assignments with rotating partners to foster creativity and dialog.
These exercises are fun activities designed from past year collaborations that involve sharing aspects of inspiration, process, and creativity with your partner and responding with creation, discussion, and reflection. Activities include sharing audio playlist, daily check-in, making response artworks, and more.
Week 8: Participants vote in ranked choice order for who they would like to pair up with for the remainder of the program. Results and identification of the pairs are handled internally by RLCF staff.
Week 9: Pairs are assigned for final projects based on input they each provide in a closed survey.
Each pair receives a $200 stipend to develop their artwork.
Weeks 9–10: Continue group meetings to share progress, receive feedback, and refine projects.
Project Development:
Weeks 11–18:
Artists focus on their final projects independently with their assigned partners.
Deadline for Installation: July 25, 2026
Exhibition:
Dates: July 27th – September 11, 2026
Venue: Gilbert Center Gallery, Ruston, Louisiana
Highlights:
Public Reception: August 20, 2026, during the Ruston Art Ramble
Weekly Zoom Meetings make this opportunity more accessible for artists from all backgrounds.
“My goal was to meet new artist and see what it was like to participate in not only a program that was designed to help artists think more creativity, but to try to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. ”
Don Graham Jr. speaking about the work he created with Daniela “Dani” Capistrano during the 2024 exhibit.
Program Total Duration:
March 16th - September 11th, 2026
Timeline Quick Look
March 1st Application Deadline
March 7th Notification of Decision to all Applicants [Notifications will go out on March 8th to all applicants]
March 21th Arts Interchange Launch @ Gilbert Center in Ruston, LA
March 16th - May 4th Weekly Meetings via Zoom & assigned collaborative
mini projects (first 8 weeks specifically)
May 11th Participants are paired with partners & begin work on project
June 1nd Weekly meetings end - pairs continue work on projects
June 29th Monthly Check-in
July 25th Community dinner for artist (past and present) @ Gilbert Center
July 20th - July 25th Installation Week
July 27th - September 11th North Louisiana Arts Interchange Exhibit
August 20th Public Reception for Exhibit
“I loved the opportunity to work and grow with multiple other artists that create differently than I do. I also loved the challenge of making long term work with someone else rather than alone. ”
Eligibility
The North Louisiana Arts Interchange is open to all U.S. based visual artists. Special emphasis is being given to North Louisiana artists and those from surrounding areas (East Texas, South Arkansas, Central Mississippi, and South Louisiana).
Program Fee
$75 (the $25 application fee will be credited to your application fee upon acceptance)
Scholarship funding is available for artists who are not able to pay more than the application fee. There will be an option to request support after acceptance.
Application Process
Complete the Application Process by 11:59pm CST March 1st.
Applications will be reviewed by RLCF staff
Artists will be considered based on their work submitted and stated interest in the program
All artists will be notified of acceptance/rejection by March 7th.
Successful payment of application fee, $25.
Remainder of program fee shall be paid before Thursday 12th, 2026 (program fee total is $75 and application fee counts towards program fee meaning $50 is still due after acceptance).
Your Application will include:
Head shot and bio/artist statement
Resume including related experience and website/social media information (if you have a website/social media)
A statement (max 2 pages) about your desire to participate in the North Louisiana Arts Interchange
In your statement, please explain what you hope to gain or learn in this experience
Submit images/videos of 5-20 examples of your artwork, file names should include title and creation date for each work submitted
Payment of the application fee, $25 (which can be applied toward the program fee if accepted).
Criteria used for determining eligibility
Quality of existing body of work
Evidence that this program is a natural fit in the artist’s existing work and intentions
Alignment between the artist’s intentions for the program and RLCF’s goal of cultivating community and collaboration between artists
Applicant must be over 18 years of age, be proficient in English, and have reliable internet access
While the bulk of the program is virtual through Zoom, there are multiple in-person meetups that are important that every participant is present for. The events are in Ruston, Louisiana or within a day trip of Ruston (other locations depend on each year's participants locations to best accommodate travel times).
Applications are currently closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the main goal of the Arts Interchange program?
The goal of the North Louisiana Arts Interchange is to facilitate opportunities of collaboration between artists that open them to new discoveries in their craft, themselves, and their communities.
How many participants will be involved in the program?
Each year the cohort consists of eight artists.
Are there any prerequisites or qualifications needed to join the program?
There are no distinct prerequisites/qualifications needed to join the program other than being an artists who is looking for an opportunities to branch out and engage with fellow creatives.
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What will be included in the discussion at the kick-off event?
The kick-off event will be a chance for everyone to meet each other in person, meet the RLCF staff, ask questions, and be given prompt information about the beginning of the program.
Are there specific activities planned for participants to get to know one another during the kick-off?
During the kick-off, each artists gives a short overview of their art background and body of work. Artists are invited to bring small works and/or photographs of their work that can help introduce the other artists to their craft.
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What types of topics will be covered in the weekly discussions?
The weekly discussions will involve debrief among the cohort of the past week’s exercise, guest speakers with topics relating to collaboration, and discussions around work creation as it related to the audience and physical/digital spaces. There will likely be other topics/tangents the group discusses based on what organic emerges from our conversations.
Can participants choose their partners for weekly assignments, or are they randomly paired?
During the initial exercise period, partners will be randomly assigned by RLCF, until everyone has worked with each other.
Are the weekly assignments collaborative or independent, and how are they structured to be accessible to all experience levels?
The weekly assignments are intended to be collaborative so that you are able to get to know your partner and learn from each other. The descriptions of each exercise will be provided at the start of the program. Each week, as a new assignment is given, an overview will be provided and any questions will be answered. The assignments are designed to be approachable by any skill level, limited only by your imagination and effort.
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What criteria will be used in the closed survey to assign partners during week 9?
Each participant will complete a private survey rating how excited they would be to be partnered with each of the other artists, in a ranked choice fashion.
How are the artist stipends distributed, and what expenses are they intended to cover?
After partners have been determined and announced, a stipend request form will be provided that must be completed by both partners independently. Each pair may decide how the funding will be distributed (common splits are 50/50 and 100/0). Upon receiving both requests (and the information is both matching) checks will be disbursed as requested.
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Will there be specific guidelines or themes for the art displayed in the final exhibition?
There will installation guidelines relative to the gallery provided once pairs are established. There will also be a theme announced at the start of the program that should inform the works created. This will not be announced until the cohort meets in March.
Who is responsible for the installation of the works at the Gilbert Center Gallery?
Installation is the responsibility of the artists, but RLCF staff will be on hand to help.
Will the public reception during the Ruston Art Ramble include presentations or activities involving the artists?
During the reception, there will be a small amount of time for each artist pair to speak briefly on their work (think 3 to 5 minutes). If any pair desires, there is the possibility of scheduling a artist talk night separate of the reception for more in depth presentations/conversations to occur. This will need to be coordinated between RLCF, the artist pair, and the Gilbert Center schedule.
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Are there accommodations for participants in different time zones for the weekly meetings?
The Zoom meetings are at 6pm Central time. The schedule is only ever changed if the entire cohort is in agreement of an alteration.
Is there support available for participants who may have technical difficulties with Zoom or accessing resources?
Participating artists must be able to reliably join the Zoom calls as that is a core aspect of the program.
Past Arts Interchange Artists
2025
Emma Baumann | Cindy Blair | Daija Essien | Heather Gill | Jansyn Jenkins | Tom Richard | Jenn Wasserman
2024
Daniela “Dani” Capistrano | Lindsay Carraway | brooke cassady | Taryn Davidson | Sarah Dupree | Don Graham Jr. | Morgan McCullin | Keagan Vaughan
2023
Cullen Breaux | Rodrecas “Drék” Davis | Seth Guerra | Clifton Haacker | Daniel Myers | Jessica Ray | Jennifer Robison | Callan Thornton
2022
Derrick Helphenstin | Kendall DeShea | Inique Harris | Chris Wicker | Whitney Tates | Eric Hess | Keldrick Dunn | Jessica Ann
2021 (North Louisiana Virtual Residency - precursor to the Arts Interchange)
Beenish Ahmed | Ayesha Ali | Eman Fatima | April Fitzpatrick | Robyn Gibson | Chris King | Cristina Koutsolioutsou | Shannon Moriarty | Oluwakayode Moyosade | Sangram Mukhopadhyay | Sarah Nguyen | Kinnari Saraiya | Eden Radfarr | Mami Takahashi | Emily Tironi | Ally Zlatar
2020 (North Louisiana Virtual Residency - precursor to the Arts Interchange)
Renee Allie | Thom Bennett | Julie Crews | Christiane Drieling | Nicole Duet | Wendy Dulaney | Frank Hamrick | Kate Hilburn | Nick Hobbs | Raluca Iancu | Andi Moran | Nick Peña | Bethany Raybourn | Monty Russell | Jennifer Sheuer | Joey Slaughter | Esther Sullivan | Patricia Tait Jones | Akeylah Wellington