Entries by Jen Dolen

Announcing Forecast’s 2022 Grant Recipients

January 12, 2022 in /by

Public artists are essential in helping us relate to one another, tell stories, and connect us to the land we are on. Our grant program gives public artists time and space to develop research and locally-connected projects. This year’s incredible grant recipients are planning projects to uplift their communities through storytelling, reclamation, mapping, space activation, and more. We are incredibly proud of the talented group of artists selected to receive Forecast grant funding in 2022. Sixteen artists are recipients of Forecast’s 2022 early- and mid-career grants. A total of $86,000 will support thirteen independent projects, leadership and professional development, risk-taking, multidisciplinary approaches, and collaborative problem solving in the field of public art.

Making Change: 11th Street Park Bridge | Washington, D.C.

December 9, 2021 in /by

This second issue of our consulting newsletter, Making Change, transports us from Reno, NV (elevation 4,500’) to Washington DC (elevation 410’), landing upon the banks of the Anacostia River at the soon-to-be-built 11th Street Bridge Park, designed by OMA and OLIN, for not one, but FIVE public art commissions. Here’s the WHO, WHAT, and HOW into the Forecast Public Art approach to creating meaningful public art projects, seen through the eyes of our Senior Project Manager, Mark Salinas.

A Summer of Bringing Beauty and Equity to the Built Environment

October 7, 2021 in /by

After a challenging 2020, Forecast was extremely proud to work with artists and partners to bring some magic onto our walls, festivals, fairs and public spaces in the summer of 2021. From murals to plazas to outdoor film projects, these projects brought joy, provoked new thinking and built connections and awareness in communities. Working behind the scenes with cities, neighborhood organizations, state fairs, power companies, developers and more, the Forecast team provided coaching, consulting, capacity building and technical assistance along the way to make these wonderful public art projects more accessible, sustainable and inclusive. We approached each project with community context in mind and with a focus on bringing more BIPOC artists and curators into the spotlight and into decision-making roles in the field. 

Join Us for Two Live, Interactive Courses About Public Art and Public Health

October 7, 2021 in /by

Join Tom Borrup from Creative Community Builders and Jen Krava from Forecast as they share information about what public art can do and how it can be a catalyst in the health outcomes of communities. The first course, Public Art 101: Purposes and Processes, will be on October 27 at 6pm CDT. The second course, Public Art + Healthy Communities, will be on November 10 at 5 PM CST. Both courses will be held via Zoom, and emerged from a two-year partnership with the American Planning Association to explore ways public art and placemaking contribute to thoughtful, innovative community health and wellness goals. Each course is $50 and participants do not have to attend course 1 in order to attend course 2.

Making Change: E 4th Street Engagement | Reno, NV

August 20, 2021 in /by

Making Change is Forecast’s quarterly consulting newsletter. In each issue, we’ll share the who, what, and how, to give you insight into our process. This issue features engagement work we did with the City of Reno, NV, and Jen Krava shares more about herself as the Director of Programming.

A library devoted to art in public finds new home as a resource for creative North Minneapolis community

August 12, 2021 in /by

Forecast Public Art Executive Director, Theresa Sweetland, is proud to announce the donation of the internationally-recognized organization’s public art library to Juxtaposition Arts (JXTA). The collection of over 2,000 print, digital and multimedia materials will soon be a part of JXTA’s new facility in North Minneapolis. Forecast’s team connected with Juxtaposition Arts to talk through the goals and details of such a transition during the pandemic as Forecast adopted a new mission, moved to a more flexible, remote organization and expanded their training and public art consulting work nationally. “This donation ensures that this beloved resource lives on to inspire the next generation of public artists, designers and urban planners here in our home communities and I know it will continue to build with the energy and contributions of JXTA apprentices, educators and youth.” shares Sweetland.

Murals, Murals, Murals!

August 12, 2021 in /by

Did you know that the Forecast team is working behind the scenes on mural projects in Minnesota and across the country? We love to support mural-making by helping our partners select artists through fair and equitable processes. We provide technical assistance to make mural projects more accessible, sustainable and inclusive, approaching each project with community context in mind and focused on bringing more BIPOC artists and curators into the field. 

Public Art Review issue 58

June 9, 2021 in /by

Visually stunning and 30% longer with even more compelling content than previous issues, this special 2019 edition of Public Art Review (PAR) includes a highlight of 103 pages devoted exclusively to 15 projects, all of which create spaces that encourage gathering, healing, safety, sanctuary, equity, and accessibility. We know that in this era, which feels unsafe and turbulent, such spaces—on the ground and in community—are critical. The projects—which are sited in spaces like a mobile office space, caravan, memorial site, church, and firehouse—address issues like racism, immigration, housing, economic development, incarceration, public policy, and more.

Chroma Zone 2021 Festival Artists Announced!

May 18, 2021 in /by

Forecast is excited to announce, with the Creative Enterprise Zone, the artists painting murals in St. Paul for Chroma Zone 2021! Forecast facilitated artist selection, disrupting the mural festival status quo through the lens of racial and gender equity.