Fergus Falls arts group gives intern a behind-the-scenes, onstage role

Sydnee Byrne worked Fergus Falls theater from both sides of the curtain. The summer intern at A Center for the Arts also stepped into a cast role in a revived summer production, putting her inside the daily work that keeps live shows moving while letting her perform for local audiences.

That combination says a lot about the role A Center for the Arts plays in downtown Fergus Falls. The nonprofit at 124 Lincoln Ave. W. presents local, national and international performers and offers concerts, dance, live theater and visual arts programming throughout the year. Visit Fergus Falls says community productions each summer at the center are often sell-out occasions, which makes the work of young performers and behind-the-scenes helpers part of the venue’s success.

For a young arts worker, the internship side of the job can mean learning coordination, front-of-house work, communications and production support. Pairing that with a cast role gives a fuller picture of how a community arts organization operates, from setting up events to getting a production in front of an audience. It also gives a student or early-career artist a direct connection to downtown Fergus Falls and to the families who keep coming back for summer shows.

A Center for the Arts has long leaned on that kind of youth development. Michael Burgraff led the organization for 13 years before retiring in April 2025, and he said he was most proud of the center’s children’s theater and school outreach programs. That focus on young people fits the larger purpose of a local arts hub, where training the next generation also helps keep the current season running.

The building itself reflects that continuity. It opened as the Orpheum Theatre on Dec. 29, 1921, and was renovated in 1993 for year-round use. Otter Tail County Historical Society lists A Center for the Arts among the county’s important arts and cultural organizations, and Springboard for the Arts maintains an office in Fergus Falls.

The city’s cultural institutions have deep roots as well. Minnesota Historical Society and Library of Congress records show the Fergus Falls Daily Journal began publishing in March 1972, while the paper’s predecessor dates back to 1883. In Fergus Falls, Byrne’s dual role is a reminder that the local arts pipeline is built on both performance and responsibility, with young people helping sustain the same stages where they learn to belong.