2026 GROUP RETREATS
Below are the creative groups and arts organizations joining us in 2026 - stay tuned for individual artist residency dates, information, and applications.
Alumni WORK WEEK
June 1st-4th, 2026
An opportunity for alumni to show up, pick up, and party down as we beautify the highway and wake up the lake!
July 21st-27th, 2026
McKnight Dancers and Choreographers return to TLC for their 15th annual retreat week fostering community through conversation, meals, shared work, and play.
TOFTE LAKE CENTER BOARD RETREAT
July 29th-August 2nd, 2026
TLC hosts our annual gathering of the Board of Directors for a week of planning (and playing) and strategizing ways to keep our mission and vision strong and supported.
Producer Hub Residency for Independent Arts Producers
August 5th-11th, 2026
This week-long residency will be focused on creating time and space independent producers in the performing arts in order to aide their work in the field.
BETTY Residency
August 14th-20th, 2026
In this alumni crated week, Minneapolis-based performance group BETTY (Shelby Richardson, MK Tuomanen, and Paul Kruse) gather a group of artists for a week-long retreat at TLC to develop new work.
PLAYWRIGHTS’ CENTER RETREAT
August 24th-30th, 2026
After a year’s hiatus as they open their new building, we’re so excited to welcome back the Playwrights’ Center for their 13th season at the lake!
ART OF FIRE: ARTISTIC JOURNIES IN FOREST STEWARDSHIP AND FIRE
September 9th-15th, 2026
Tofte Lake Center in collaboration with the US Forest Service will host this themed residency in September, 2026. Experts in the field of fire ecology, historical fire regimes, indigenous practices and other pertinent fields will provide educational opportunities for the artists. Presentations will be a combination of small group interactive indoor and outdoor classroom experiences, paired with immersive field trips exploring classroom concepts. In advance of the residency, artists will be offered a syllabus of readings, films, and podcasts, selected by the US Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy.
September 18th-24th
As a proud sponsor of the Ely Film Festival, we’re happy to once again host another week-long residency for filmmakers in the region after such a successful first run!