Creating Belonging in Minnesota Parks — Artist Residency in the Parks Pilot

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Parks and Trails Division, the Metropolitan Council Metropolitan Regional Parks, and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission are partnering with Forecast Public Art to launch Creating Belonging in Minnesota Parks — Artist Residency in the Parks Pilot Program in parks across Minnesota exploring community and belonging. The selected Minnesota-based artists-in-residence will research and engage with a park, trail or park system and its communities and then use that research to develop new work(s). Unlike traditional residency opportunities, this program focuses on how artists can serve as partners to and ambassadors for the parks and contribute not just art, but ideas.

The goal of the Minnesota Parks Artist-in-Residence Pilot Program is to enhance a sense of welcoming and belonging to park users. We hope that this pilot helps foster deeper community engagement and relationship-building in state and regional parks; improves access to Minnesota parks and trails; and increases collective appreciation for park uses, outdoor recreation, and natural resources, especially in underserved communities.

This is a paid opportunity for artists that aims to address unique opportunities and challenges around creating belonging in our public parks. This residency is modeled on artist residencies in government, which embed artists into public systems. Embedding an artist in a park or a park system will allow the selected artists to apply their own creative perspectives and skills to foster a greater sense of belonging. All selected artists will be a part of a cohort of 9, and will meet with other artists regularly to foster a sense of community and to share ideas.

Legacy funds dedicated to coordination among partner agencies will fund artists’ time, and project materials/expenses. The artwork will be determined in collaboration between the artist and the host site. Artists will also build connections in the local community and could collaborate with other parks in the region. Artistic outputs may take the form of community conversations, music/dance/theater/performance, ephemeral installations, 3D sculpture, projection/lighting projects, and other temporary works. Artists will spend an average of 20 hours each week from July 2024 – June 2025 as the Artist-in-Residence.

Artist-in-Residence position
Timeline: 12 months (August 2024 to August 2025)
Time commitment: average 20 hours/week (part-time)
Stipend: $40,000; Materials budget: $14,000
Location: A Minnesota park or a park system (find the full list of host sites at the Submittable application link)
Deadline to apply: July 21, 2024, 11:59 pm
Information session: Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 4:00 pm (Register for information session)

See the website for additional information.