Firefly Center for Art & Wellbeing

Firefly Center for Art & Wellbeing

Firefly is a nonprofit arts and wellbeing center in downtown Fosston, MN. We believe creativity and connection essential for wellbeing, and that rural deserve places like Firefly to gather, and feel like they belong.

Firefly began in 2019 with an idea. A group of residents learned that Alluma, a regional mental health provider, needed a permanent home in town. They got creative. The result is a beautifully renovated building downtown that brings together a public art gallery, event and makerspace, mental health services, and two Airbnb units that help to financially sustain the Center.

What happens at Firefly

Gallery exhibits. Our gallery features local and regional artists of all abilities in themed shows. Recent exhibits include "Resilience" and "Light," and our next call for art, "Imperfections," invites artists to share work they weren’t fully satisfied with, because vulnerability is part of creating.

Classes and workshops. We offer hands-on art classes and workshops for adults, kids, and families. Our classes and events are often free thanks to generous programming grants.

Painting with Kent Estey & Mary Turner
Intergenerational and senior programs. We offer art classes to assisted living residents and run programs that put young people and older adults in the same room, making things together.

Wellness and cultural programming. Yoga, children’s author events, and cultural offerings, including Indigenous culture programming guided by Indigenous partners.Yoga with Grace

Community health and restorative practices. Firefly has hosted naloxone (Narcan) training with Polk County Public Health. Our director is a Rule 114 qualified mediator and trained restorative practice facilitator, and we’re working to make restorative and mediation services available to families in Polk County.

Why it matters here

In a small town, isolation is real and resources are far apart. Firefly is one of the few places in east Polk County where you can walk in, look at art, take a class, or grab a coffee and enjoy our gallery lounge with a friend. Everything we do is built in response to what our community has asked for.

Why we need you right now

In 2025, a federal policy change retroactively disallowed expenses under a state-administered grant Firefly had received. We now owe more than $39,000 in repayment, and a final $38,000 reimbursement for approved expenses was withheld. Our community responded with more than $51,000 through the Light The Way campaign, and we are grateful. But Firefly is still operating month-to-month, with one staff member and no steady operating support.

Your Give to the Max gift keeps the doors open, the lights on, and the programs running. It funds the everyday overhead costs grants don’t: insurance, maintenance, office supplies, utilities, staff time, and so much more.

Every gift helps. Thank you for being part of Firefly.

Firefly Center for Art & Wellbeing · 102 S. Kaiser Ave, Fosston, MN · (218) 209-2002

Trip to the Girlhood Exhibit at the MN History Center