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. 

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.

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.