MNPAiR — Minnesota Parks Artists in Residence
Creating Belonging pilot
Row 1, from left to right, artists at sites in Greater MN Regional Parks and Trails: Granite Falls Memorial Park + Lake Brophy County Park (Granite Falls + Alexandria): Tamara Isfeld + John Sterner. Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo, Chester Woods Park, Cascade Lake Park / Quarry Hill Nature Center (Olmsted County): Cassandra Buck. Two Inlets at Bdé Heháka – Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park, Robert Ney Park (Sherburne County and Wright County): Lindsay Buck.
Row 2, Metropolitan Regional Parks: Dakota County Parks: Ifrah Mansour. North Mississippi Regional Park (Minneapolis): Stephanie Lindquist; Battle Creek Park (Saint Paul and Maplewood): Tara Perron + Marlena Myles.
Row 3, Minnesota DNR Parks and Trails: Lake Bemidji State Park (Bemidji): Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns + Monica Rojas. Tettegouche State Park (Silver Bay): Sam Zimmerman. Wild River State Park (Center City): JG Everest.
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 (the full list of host sites were visible at the application link)
Deadline to apply: July 21, 2024, 11:59 pm
Information session: Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 4:00 pm (Watch info session recording)
FAQ’s for artists: Read answers to common questions
What is the program?
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Metropolitan Council Metropolitan Regional Parks, and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission are partnering with Forecast Public Art to launch MNPAiR, an Artist Residency in the Parks pilot in parks across Minnesota, with a cohort 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 MNPAiR 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.
VIDEO: Celebrating MNPAiR
Reflect on MNPAiR (Minnesota Parks Artists in Residence) with partners and artists who were part of the pilot, and discover more details about each residency and impacts of the work. With Jen Krava, Mallory Rukhsana Nezam, Hawona Sullivan Janzen, and Anne Jin Soo Preston (Forecast Public Art), Ellie Hohulin (Metropolitan Council Metropolitan Regional Parks), Lars Erdahl (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources), Luisa Cichowski (Conservation Corp), Renee Mattson (Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission), Kris Lencowski (Ramsey County), Sam Zimmerman (MNPAiR artist), Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns and Monica Rojas (MNPAiR artist team), and Lindsay Buck (MNPAiR artist), as well as a recording with viewpoints from other partners and artists.
Artist Qualifications
Required
- Minnesota resident
- Have a minimum of two years of experience in at least one arts discipline and have a grasp of the principles and values that guide the project
- Experience working in and with communities
- Communicate effectively in English
- Available to participate in residency for the entire 12 month period
- Access to reliable transportation to access the site(s)
Desired
- Experience creating artworks/programs in public space
- Demonstrated ability to work across ages, abilities, & cultures
Application Requirements
- Artist Statement (up to 200 words)
- Artist Bio (100 words)
- Three work samples
- Upload images, text, or audio files. Please only link URLs to Video sample works
- At least one work sample should clearly demonstrate your work in community and/or public space
- Attach a one page Work sample list that includes titles of the works, dates created, descriptions
Essay Questions
- How have you historically involved communities in your practice? (200 word limit)
- What is your relationship to: land, Minnesota, and parks? (200 word limit)
- What, in particular, appeals to you about this program? (200 word limit)
- How do you like to collaborate? (200 word limit)
Park Preferences
Candidate will indicate top 3 Park sites (full list of host sites were included on the application link)
When ranking, please consider your ability to access the site year-round
- Write 1-3 sentences about why each of your top 3 sites are of interest to you
Minnesota Parks Artists-in-Residence, 2024 – 2025
In Minnesota’s first statewide artist-in-residence program, the selected Minnesota-based artists are researching and engage with a park, trail, or park system and its communities and using that research to develop new work(s).
Congratulations to the artists and host sites! This cohort includes creatives working in a variety of practices, such as children’s books, composing, puppeteering, and virtual art. As park partners and ambassadors, they are contributing not just art, but ideas. It’s been a joy to see how these artists-in-residence are enhancing a sense of welcoming and belonging for park users.
The selected artists and their host sites are:
Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission:
Tamara Isfeld
Tamara’s Bio
Tamara Isfeld has always been fascinated with drawing, painting, ceramics, stained glass, and just about any art process, though painting and mosaic remain her main media of expression.
Trained as a teacher specializing in Art Education, giving back to the community where she lives continues to play a significant role in her life decades into her practice. She has nurtured and leads her local arts council and its many new initiatives, travels at request to create murals and public sculpture and mosaics, and consistently shows her own work.
John K Sterner
John’s Bio
John K. Sterner is a Sicangu Lakota Artist from Southwestern Minnesota who also teaches art at the primary, secondary and collegiate levels, trying to fulfill the ideal that Black Elk stated a Lakota warrior was; a provider, a teacher, a parent, an uncle, and a defender.
John is an celebrated artist; winning several awards over the years in sculpture and painting. You will find him always with a pencil, pen, or paints ready to take on another challenge.
As a Parks Resident Artist team (with Tamara Isfeld), together they are excited to creatively and collaboratively foster a greater sense of community and respectful belonging in the gift of natural shared space.
Cassandra Buck
Cassandra’s Bio
Cassandra Buck graduated with a bachelor’s degree in art education from Winona State University in 2008. She taught middle school art for seven years and is currently working as a full-time artist. She is a leader within the local art community and is an advocate for women in the arts. Cassandra is the Arts Programmer/Gallery Curator at Forager Brewery in Rochester, Minnesota.
Cassandra has exhibited as a solo artist as well as various group exhibitions including Winona State University, The University of Minnesota, and at the Austin Art Works Center in Austin, Minnesota. In 2016 she was awarded Rochester Mayor’s Medal of Honor for Artistic/Cultural Achievement. In 2018 Cassandra opened her own Shop/Studio, Clover & Rose, which specializes in unique gifts, art, and vintage items. In 2022 and 2023 Cassandra was awarded Minnesota State Arts Board grants to work with underserved communities and neighborhoods in Rochester to create neighborhood murals. Cassandra lives in Rochester, Minnesota with her husband and two children.
Lindsay Buck
Lindsay’s Bio
A landscape architect by trade, Lindsay Buck completed studies in fine arts and biology before pursuing a master’s in landscape architecture (MLA) degree. Her passion lies at the intersection of art and science, which has been a driving force in both her career and in her artistic endeavors. Born and raised in the American Midwest, she has lived and worked professionally in Miami, Los Angeles, and Zurich, Switzerland. She currently resides in Mahtomedi, Minnesota and is co-founder of Tree and Table, a multi-faceted design studio that encourages exploration, appreciation, and preservation of the natural world.
Metropolitan Regional Parks:
Ifrah Mansour
Ifrah’s Bio
Ifrah Mansour is a Somali refugee, Muslim multimedia artist, and educator based in Minnesota. Her work highlights the trauma and resilience of Black, Muslim, and refugee communities through poetry, puppetry, film, theater, and installations. Featured by BBC, Vice, and the Star Tribune, her acclaimed piece “How to Have Fun in a Civil War” premiered at the Guthrie Theater. Her “Healing Aqal” installation symbolizing collective healing is touring across Minnesota. Mansour’s visual poem *I Am a Refugee* was featured in PBS’s Short Film Festival. She’s designs workshops to expand arts access for communities of color.
Stephanie Lindquist
Stephanie’s Bio
Originally from Los Angeles, Stephanie Lindquist received her BA from Columbia University and MFA from University of Minnesota. She has exhibited at Dreamsong, 1-54, Franconia, NXTHVN, Google, SooVAC, Smack Mellon, the New York Public Library, The Bronx Museum, El Museo del Barrio, SPRING/BREAK, and NDSU. As Macalester College’s first Artist-in-Residence (2022–2024) she collaborated with activists, educators, students, and community members around the Mississippi River. Outputs included providing free saunas, creating herbal first aid kits inspired by classes at MCTC, organizing free workshops led by local herbalists, sailing with college students down the Mississippi to the Gulf, making paper from harvested cottonwood seeds, and completing a series of paintings made from soil from Sierra Leone.
Tara Perron (Tanáǧidaŋ To Wiŋ, aka Blue Hummingbird Woman)
Tara’s Bio
Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ ( Tara Perron) is a Dakota and Anishnaabe mother. She grew up in Imnížaska (Saint Paul), Minnesota. She studied Dakóta language and culture at Metro State University. She is the author of Takoza: Walks With the Blue Moon Girl, Animals of Khéya Wíta, Animals of Nimaamaa-Aki, and Awáŋkičhiyaka pi. Tara is inspired by the loving hearts of her sons: she is a creator, plant medicine enthusiast, and has always loved to write. She believes in the healing power of storytelling.
Marlena Myles
Marlena’s Bio
Marlena Myles, a self-taught Spirit Lake Dakota artist in Saint Paul, Minnesota, brings Indigenous history, language, and traditions into modern contexts through children’s books, augmented reality, murals, and more. Her notable works include augmented reality public art installations such as the Dakota Spirit Walk, Sacred Hoop Walk and Wodakota Walk. She has exhibited at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and other prestigious galleries, created a Google Doodle, and launched Wíyouŋkihipi Productions to promote Dakota culture. In 2023, she won the Knight Arts + Tech Fellowship, Joyce Award, and created her first documentary, “Realms of Resilience.”
Minnesota DNR Parks and Trails:
Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns
Nicole’s Bio
Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns is a queer writer, artist, and educator of Scandinavian descent. Nicole’s work seeks to make the invisible, visible. Nicole creates interactive public art, participatory events and classes as a teaching artist, performances, community activities, temporary nature art, mixed media art, and writes creative nonfiction. Nicole enjoys cavorting with insects, eating fibrous fruit, and collecting misplaced postal rubber bands. Nicole and wife, Monica, along with their niece and nephew, live in a cozy and colorful home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Monica Rojas
Monica’s Bio
Monica Rojas is a bilingual queer Chilean-American who engages communities in writing and artistic practices through magical realism, joy, and play. She received a Mirrors and Windows Fellowship through the Loft Literary Center, has a published picture book, Nana and Abuela, a pending picture book publication, Patchwork Memories, and has created many interactive art installations, events, and performances. She lives with her wife, niece, and nephew in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she befriends local librarians, mends clothes, and stoop sits.
Sam Zimmerman
Sam’s Bio
Sam Zimmerman / Zhaawanoogiizhik’s painting explores his Ojibwe heritage, experiences in nature on the Grand Portage reservation and the North Shore while preserving shared oral histories, reimagining the symbolism of animals, and the beauty of the region’s landscapes. His work embeds the themes of environmental stewardship and conservation of the North Shore. He has completed public art pieces for the Grand Portage Tribal Nation, Chik Wauk Museum and Nature Center, Voyageur National Park, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis County Historical Society, the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and other communities as a means to celebrate Ojibwe culture and language.
He has been the recipient of grant awards from the Minnesota State Arts Board, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Northland Foundation Maada’ookiing, and Duluth Superior Community Foundation.
JG Everest
JG’s Bio
Composer / Historian JG Everest was born and raised in Imnížaska, Mni Sota Makoče (St Paul, MN) and is currently based in Minneapolis. As a composer, designer, director, and performer, he focuses on creating immersive site-specific sound + performance installations for outdoor public natural spaces, with an intention of providing transformative self-guided experiences that connect us more meaningfully to each other and the natural world. His deeper intention is to create spaces for healing, reflection, connection, and rejuvenation through spatial compositions and sonic architectures that accompany the sounds and ‘dances’ that are already occurring in nature. To do this, he has designed and built an “instrument” through which he can install and “play” / perform his site-specific, spatial compositions through up to 70+ small, wireless speakers, each playing a different part of the whole piece of music, housed in handmade vessels that serve as objects in the installation (wooden birdhouses, felt sculptures), and distributed over 1-5 acres. He then often accompanies the installation live, with other members of his roving Free Range Orchestra ensemble and other performers including poets, dancers, and visual artists. He is a 2019 McKnight Composers Fellow and a 2024 US Forest Service Artist In Residence.
What are the artists working on?
Since January 2025, the artists in our new MNPAiR program continue to offer a variety of creative community programming and ideas. It’s been a joy to see their work come to life as these artists enhance a sense of welcoming and belonging for park visitors across the state. MNPAiR artists and their host sites have held workshops and outdoor events and activities for parks visitors to learn new creative skills, experience their park in new ways, celebrate the seasons through Dakota ancestral teachings blended with modern Indigenous creativity, and more.
Below is a sampling of their approaches. Artists listed in alphabetical order by first name, among their respective park system groups.
Visit our Events page to browse upcoming and previous events chronologically.
Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC)
Visit the GMRPTC page about MNPAiR for detailed info.
Cassandra Buck
Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo, Cascade Lake Park / Quarry Hill Nature Center (Olmsted County)
By mid-April 2025, Cassandra held five community workshops. The workshops aimed to bring together people of all ages to create their own art communicating their favorite aspects of the park. Cassandra guided participants to create using paints, colored pencils, yarn, paper, canvas, photos and printmaking materials. All community members were encouraged to participate and reflect on their favorite park features and activities, whether they feel like they are artists or not. She worked with local art shops, Griot Arts, and Rochester Art Center to provide free art kits for local residents who would like to participate, but could not attend. At each park, participants responded to the prompts, “Why is connecting to nature at [this park] important to you?” and “What makes you feel as though you belong at [this park]?”
The resulting artworks made by community members informed Cassandra’s public art installations for all three parks, installed and unveiled from July–September of 2025. These include a series of collage signage at Oxbow Park, two murals at Cascade Park, and at Quarry Hill, a cross-stitch installation as well as painted artwork along with two community murals.
Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo
At Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo, community-identified themes included: camping, hiking, visiting the animals at the zoo, playing, wildflowers/grasses, and the history of the park. Cassandra then used the community’s art to create four collages, which were made into signage explaining the history of the park. The signage can be seen as you walk into the zoo from the parking lot on your right. The title of these collages are “Piecing it All Together.”
Cascade Park
Community-identified themes at Cascade included: playing, swimming, running, fishing, wind, water, wildflowers/grass swaying. Cassandra then used the community’s art as inspiration for two permanent murals at Cascade, both titled “Movement.” The murals can be seen on the side of the Lakeside Building by the lake and the front of the Band Stand right next to the running trail (Community mural).
Quarry Hill Nature Center
Many Quarry Hill park visitors and staff wrote their favorite memories of the park and how they connected to it personally. The community’s art, conversations, and written words informed permanent murals and installations throughout the park. On the left as visitors walk into the park from the parking lot is “Memories of Nature,” a large cross stitch installation, as well as a mural of the pond, and a butterfly wing. Text is interwoven into the mural, repeating words used by the community to answer the artist’s prompts. Painted words include, “Quarry Hill is where I met my wife, Quarry hill is a place to learn and discover. Quarry hill is where I go to remember loved ones, Quarry Hill is my happy place. Quarry Hill is serene and calm,” and “Quarry hill is where I go to clear my head.”
Two additional community murals—painted with attendees during a celebration for the main Quarry Hill community art project—can be found on the main hiking trail that leads to the food storage caves: one depicts a cardinal with open wings, and the other, a dragonfly.
Find more on GMRPTC’s page on Cassandra’s MNPAiR project and on Cassandra’s website.
Celebrate the MNPAiR Community Art Project Installation | Cascade Park
- Cascade Park: September 7, 1:00–5:00pm
Celebrate the MNPAiR Community Art Project Installation | Quarry Hill Nature Center
- Quarry Hill Nature Center: August 30, 1:00–5:00pm
- A Community Mural was created during the event. Attendees were asked to help paint the Quarry Hill Caves (blocked off entrances)
This project, entitled “Memories of Nature,” was created in collaboration with park staff/visitors. Design elements in this installation were pulled from art that people created and submitted during in person and online art workshops. People were asked to make art focusing on a theme. They were asked: “Why is connecting to nature at Quarry Hill important to you?” and “What makes you feel as though you belong at Quarry Hill?” Memories with friends, family, pets and school were things that visitors love and feel make Quarry Hill an important part of their life. These things are interwoven into the artwork Cassandra created.
Celebrate the MNPAiR Community Art Project Installation | Oxbow Zollman Zoo
MNPAiR Community Art Project | Cascade Lake Park
MNPAiR Community Art Project | Quarry Hill Park
MNPAiR Community Art Project | Oxbow Park
John K Sterner + Tamara Isfeld
Granite Falls Memorial Park and Douglas County Lake Brophy Park
One of the parks’ goals was for the artists to work with the community to engage the public in both the parks and with the new art. Each project program aimed to reflect the area community; through their history, principles, plans for the future, or other community ideas. The projects brought the community to the park to help them learn about, and relate with, the park. These creative experiences also helped engage more public involvement in the park by giving the people the pride of involvement, as well as piquing interest in the parks and drawing visitors.
The parks and artists held an early gathering to introduce people in the Granite Falls area to the project, and Tamara has been active to bring the community into the project.
This summer, Tamara and John led a series of free, all-ages-welcome community workshops at Memorial Park in Granite Falls and Lake Brophy County Park near Alexandria, offering participants hands-on experiences in mosaics, plein air painting, and ceramics.
The artists conducted classes outside in the parks to fuel participant creativity in a natural environment. Mosaic class participants produced permanent murals in each park to leave a beautiful, lasting legacy of the MNPAiR experience.
The mosaic pieces created will become permanent installations at each park, and John is completing accompanying sculptures that will be installed in October, 2025. These works celebrate creativity, community, and the connection between art and the natural spaces where they were made.
Carved wooden sculptures represent the four elements of earth, wind, sky and fire. When viewed in groups of three or four, the sculptures look like people welcoming visitors to enjoy the trails.
At Douglas County Lake Brophy Park, summer class participants created fish mosaics which will be installed as a border around a main mosaic. The mosaic will soon be installed in the new park visitor center to welcome visitors, as a vibrant example of community collaboration. Additionally, a curved metal sculpture serves as a visual focal point at the start of the park’s mountain bike trails.
Find more on GMRPTC’s page on John and Tamara’s MNPAiR project.
Mosaic mural + classes
One project became the creation of a mosaic mural. Tamara held free mosaic-building art classes for the public to help create the mosaic for the park.
Light The Way | Granite Falls Memorial Park
With MNPAiR, in February the park created an event called “Light The Way, Granite Falls – An Evening Luminary Walk at Memorial Park.” Park staff and the public created ice luminaries placed on the north bike/walk trail along the river in the park. Tamara served hot chocolate with marshmallows. She also shared ideas about art pieces the artists are considering for the park, and received feedback from participants. She also shared ideas for fun art activities that can be done for or at Memorial Park.
Workshops | Granite Falls Memorial Park
● Join the Park Mosaic Project — Help build the large panels!
● Plein Air Painting (June 18, 25, July 2) Observe & paint the landscape with watercolor and acrylics
● Raku Pottery (July 2) A fiery and fun ceramic experience — glaze, fire, and create.
Free & Open to All Ages – No Experience Needed Create, connect, and celebrate the beauty of nature and community through art.
Workshops | Lake Brophy Park
● Mosaic Fish Workshop — Design glass mosaic fish for community display.
● Join the Park Mosaic Project — Help build the large panels!
● Plein Air Painting (June 16 & 23) Observe & paint the landscape with watercolor and acrylics
● Raku Pottery (June 30) A fiery and fun ceramic experience — glaze, fire, and create.
Free & Open to All Ages – No Experience Needed Create, connect, and celebrate the beauty of nature and community through art.
Lindsay Buck
Wright County Robert Ney Park and Two Inlets at Bdé Heháka – Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park (Two Inlets)
Both a landscape architect and an artist, Lindsay was chosen to work with two regional parks on either side of the Mississippi River. Lindsay’s approach for the parks is a joint project tying the past to the future around culture and nature. She developed a mobile phone app that pairs with onsite signage to bring users a new perspective on the land from the combined perspectives of history, language, and botanical knowledge.
Lindsay worked with many community partners to create her project, including Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Upper Sioux Community, Lower Sioux Agency, Wright County Parks and Recreation & Parks Commission, and artist Arabella Howell (Pezihutazizi Oyate), who created the logo, navigation icons, and game graphics for the app.
Through the app, called heart+land, interpretive information integrates botanical knowledge to communicates the following themes:
- History: giving voice to the past and honoring the present within the cultural landscape
- Language: Connecting Indigenous names to landforms, plants, and animals, and learning how naming systems reflect relationships between people and nature
- Respect: centering an attitude of reciprocity over extraction- exploring the lessons plants can teach us above their utilitarian uses.
- Interconnection: exploring relationships between land, people, plants, and animals
The trail and app are free and open to the public for self-guided tours anytime. The app launched on August 16, 2025.
Find more on GMRPTC’s page on Lindsay’s MNPAiR project.
heart+land event | Robert Ney Regional Park
heart+land, a project by Lindsay Buck (_@freshlypressed), is a new interpretive feature spanning (2) regional parks in central Minnesota: Sherburne County’s Two Inlets at Bde Heḣaka – Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans and Robert Ney in Wright County. The installation pairs new signage with a mobile phone app to showcase the history, cultural significance, and unique environmental connections of our central Minnesota landscape—all through the lens of native plants.
The launch of the app will be celebrated with a public event at each park:
August 16, 10am–noon at Robert Ney Regional Park
August 23, 10am–noon at Two Inlets at Bde Heḣaka – Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park
The events feature artist-led discussions and exploration of the games in the mobile app. Art and product demonstrations, children’s activities, and refreshments provided.
heart+land event | Two Inlets at Bde Heḣaka – Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans
heart+land, a project by Lindsay Buck (_@freshlypressed), is a new interpretive feature spanning (2) regional parks in central Minnesota: Sherburne County’s Two Inlets at Bde Heḣaka – Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans and Robert Ney in Wright County. The installation pairs new signage with a mobile phone app to showcase the history, cultural significance, and unique environmental connections of our central Minnesota landscape—all through the lens of native plants.
The launch of the app will be celebrated with a public event at each park:
August 16, 10am–noon at Robert Ney Regional Park
August 23, 10am–noon at Two Inlets at Bde Heḣaka – Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park
The events will feature artist-led discussions and exploration of the games in the mobile app. Art and product demonstrations, children’s activities, and refreshments will be provided. Registration encouraged.
The mobile app
heart+land is an interpretive trail experience that encourages visitors of all ages to learn, play, and discover as they move through the landscape.
Learn about the history, cultural significance, and unique environmental connections of central Minnesota by exploring maps, plant profiles, and games in conjunction with the interpretive trails at (2) regional parks.
Trails featured in the app include the Pond Loop at Robert Ney Regional Park in Wright County, and the Lower Prairie Loop at Two Inlets at Bde Heḣaka – Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park in Sherburne County.
Download heart+land for ios (available soon for Android).
Maps
The map section will include regional maps which discuss the concept and history of the cultural landscape, but will also include interactive maps of each park which show the locations of interpretive markers within the park, and a preview of the information that is included at each.
Botanical Knowledge
Each interpretive marker will feature a culturally significant plant species that is present at that park. The botanical images will be supported by a discussion of the names in English, Dakota, and Ojibwe, paired with audio clips of proper pronunciation. Stories, provided as audio, video, or written narrative should center on local Indigenous knowledge of that species to keep teachings specific to place and culture, and will center on the themes of history, language, respect, and interconnection between plants, animals, and people.
Land Connections
Connections are tactile components that link the knowledge to place through interaction with the land. Land-based activities associated with each plant will be suggested for future park programming (ie, guided foraging, maple syrup collection, textile making) and event information included here. Games embedded in the app will encourage onsite exploration while introducing knowledge such as recipes or stories. A proposal for a future phase of the app is to develop an augmented reality component which will focus on plant and animal connections.
Metropolitan Regional Parks
Ifrah Mansour
Dakota County Parks
In a world trying to convince us we have less and are less, Ifrah invites you to seek refuge in nature and gather in joy, weaving, and beauty.
Weaving Abundance, created by Ifrah Mansour, is a multi-site participatory public art project inviting all people into a creative journey of interconnectedness—with land, with species, and with one another. Through the meditative act of weaving, many hands come together to imagine abundance as enough-ness, belonging, and wholeness. Weaving Abundance explores the radical possibility of finding wholeness in what the world discards. Through this work, Mansour explores abundance in waste, in people, in ecology, and in our collective capacity to create beauty.
Free weaving workshops were held at the artist’s studio, Thompson Park, Lebanon Hills, and community events, culminating at Spring Lake Park with music, poetry, and Cedar Riverside youth bused in to celebrate.
The first sculptures of Weaving Abundance, the Abundance Eggs, rest gently in the prairie near the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center, celebrating the beauty of native landscapes—and the care that allows abundance to grow. The artist explains, “They begin a journey across Dakota County, traveling from here to Thompson Park and Spring Lake. Along the way, they invite a simple question: What is hatching within you? What abundance awaits?”
Participants co-created seven sculptures—Forest of Becoming, Abundance Eggs, Welcome Home, Ancestors, Rivers in the Sky, Prayer Beads, Wandering Abundance, and The Healing Aqal—using eggshells, coffee grounds, spices, and donated fabrics, transforming discarded matter into living symbols of resilience, care, and interdependence across Dakota County’s parks.
Community Weaving Workshops | Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Drop-in weaving for people to be part of creating large scale sculptures together.
All ages welcome, materials provided.
Community Weaving Workshops | Thompson County Park
This event was drop-in, for participants to weave and be part of creating large scale sculptures together.
All ages welcomed. Materials provided.
Final Community Celebration | Spring Lake Park Reserve
Self-Guided Exhibits | Spring Lake Park Reserve
Marlena Myles + Tara Perron (Tanáǧidaŋ To Wiŋ, aka Blue Hummingbird Woman)
Battle Creek Park (Saint Paul and Maplewood)
Artists Marlena Myles and Tanáğidaŋ To Wiŋ (Tara Perron/Blue Hummingbird Woman) held four community celebrations that brought together Dakota ancestral teachings, modern Indigenous artists and artistry, and community-building activities to honor each season’s beauty and cultural significance, and celebrate what it means to people who have called this area home for thousands of years. In addition to celebrations and workshops at Battle Creek, Marlena and Tara worked on a medicine garden full of native plantings and an outdoor classroom, both featured and described for visitors at the summer event.
Tara and Marlena both coordinated each event and also participated as local artisans. Marlena provided coloring sheets for participants to interact and learn about the seasonal celebrations and local plant life, and debuted new augmented reality experiences. At each celebration, 20–30 Native vendors sold jewelry, soap, art, candles, clothes, and other seasonal items and handmade goods and art. Each event also hosted Native food trucks and other traditional Indigenous foods and teas.
At their Yaŋpá Spring-Wind Dakota Celebration & Nibi Waterwalk with Sharon Day, Marlena shares that “over 100 people walked the path along Battle Creek, centering water, love and healing.”
Visit Wíyouŋkihipi Productions for a free resource: Marlena’s coloring pages and augmented reality to share Dakota plant and wildlife knowledge.
Discover a deep dive on Marlena and Tara’s Waziya Winter Wind Celebration at Battle Creek Winter Recreation Area through a write-up from The Circle.
Éya Autumn-Wind Celebration: Dakota Autumn Teachings | Battle Creek Park Bluff Corridor
Artists-in-residence Marlena Myles, Tanáǧidaŋ Tó Wiŋ (Tara Perron / Blue Hummingbird Woman) and special guests invited the public to join in honoring Éya, the transformative Dakota Autumn-Wind of the West, with a powerful community celebration rooted in Dakota teachings and creative expression.
• 1:00 PM – Native Storytime with Indigenous Books
• 3:00 PM – Guided Dakota Tree Walk
• Sacred Impressions: Botanical Cyanotype Printmaking with Aiyana Kline & Courtney Cochran
• Weaving with Cattails with Ella Robertson
• Native Tea Sampling by Blue Hummingbird Woman & Flores De Miel
• Seeds of Change: Native seed giveaway + free yard signs
• Color & Create: Dakota coloring pages & AR art by Marlena Myles
• Indigenous Autumn Market
• Native Food Trucks featuring Trickster Tacos and Yumyum Truck
The artists invited community to bring their loved ones and celebrate the spirit of autumn.
Éya Autumn-Wind Celebration: Workshop series (part 2) | Battle Creek Park Picnic Shelter
11am–12pm — Primal Flow (Yoga) with Victoria Marie
12–1pm — Living Waters with Tammy Villegas
12–1pm — Plant Dye & Earth Pigment with Wóokiye Wíŋ (sold out)
Celebrate Dakota teachings, wellness, and creativity through movement, art, and the land itself.
Éya Autumn-Wind Celebration: Workshop series (part 1) | Battle Creek Park Bluff Corridor
Okáǧa Summer-Wind Celebration: Dakota Summer Teachings | Battle Creek Regional Park
Join us Friday, August 1 at Battle Creek Park Pavilion for the Okáǧa Summer-Wind Celebration: Dakota Summer Teachings, a beautiful evening of Dakota art, teachings, music, food and community joy.
Okáǧa is the fertile and invigorating Summer-Wind of the South, and we are gathering with some incredible guests to honor this season of transformation and growth.
• 5:30 PM – Flute performance & courtship teachings with Dakota Wind Goodhouse / The First Scout
• 6:30 PM – Musical performance by the legendary Jackie Bird
• 7:30 PM – Dakota Plant Walk with Blue Hummingbird Woman
All evening long:
• Counting Moons & Winters with The First Scout (pauses during flute performance)
• Dakota Henna Stamps by Graci Horne
• Dakota Coloring Pages
• Augmented Reality Art
• Indigenous Summer Market
• Food trucks: Trickster Tacos LLC, Steven D’s, Frybread Factory and Yum Yum Truck!
Free and open to all, bring your friends, family and good vibes!
Battle Creek Park Pavilion
2401 Upper Afton Rd E, Maplewood, MN
Pro tip: Use “Battle Creek Water Works” in your GPS for the right parking lot.
Yaŋpá Spring-Wind Dakota Celebration & Nibi Waterwalk with Sharon Day | Battle Creek Regional Park
Marlena Myles and Tanáǧidaŋ Tó Wiŋ (Tara Perron/Blue Hummingbird Woman) invited participants to welcome the return of Yaŋpá, the Dakota Spring Wind of the East, with a community celebration grounded in healing, renewal, and Indigenous creativity.
Waziya Winter Wind Celebration | Battle Creek Winter Recreation Area
Waziya Winter Wind Celebration: Dakota Winter Teachings & Contemporary Indigenous Artistry—Snow sculptor Heather Friedli, with artists Marlena Myles and Tanagidan To Win, held a dynamic event blending Dakota ancestral teachings with modern Indigenous creativity. The event included an Indigenous market, food, Dakota storytelling, crafting, and more.
• Live Snow Sculpture by Heather Friedli, showcasing winter’s stunning beauty.
Stephanie Lindquist
North Mississippi Regional Park (Minneapolis)
Over the course of the residency, Stephanie connected and held conversation with the community to better understand how locals already connect and want to connect with the park. Following her interest in the medicinal use of plants and the beauty of making art with natural materials, she organized a series of plant walks led by four herbalists: Emily Pearson Ryan, Tanáǧidaŋ Tó Wíŋ, hal sansone, and Eva Nyrie Garrett. Participants discovered the powers of everyday plants and learned about the land and its history. Emily focused on the “weedy” herbs that were brought across the Atlantic. Tanáǧidaŋ shared her family’s history of relying on this land to provide all of their medicine and some of the amazing gifts of those in the park. hal introduced two nervines: Catnip and Blue Vervain. And Eva explored the doctrine of signatures to help us begin to visually remember plants’ different qualities. Each herbalist left guests with a medicinal gift – a tea, salve, or tincture. Each intimate event was free, with registration required.
On January 17 and 31, 2026, Stephanie was grateful to co-host drop-in willow weaving workshops with Debbie Johnson and Gail Mollner. Folks were invited to weave stars and fish that Stephanie will install in the park’s north prairie. The artist is also excited to invite a handful of singers and storytellers to join in celebrating the collective installation in the park’s soon-to-be designated urban night sky.
In Fall 2025, she initiated a collaboration with wood burner Teneka Graves and poet Heid Erdrich to create 4 visual signs on large pieces of Cottonwood. On the wood of this sacred and iconic tree they will burn, engrave, dye, and inscribe words that feature the interconnectedness of diverse living beings, big and small, that call the park home. As the wood is slowly kiln-dried for 2 months this winter, the artists will continue to meet to flesh out images, words, and information to ground visitors to this place.
Walk with an Herbalist- Plants with Purpose: Finding Healing | North Mississippi Regional Park
Walk with an Herbalist- Blue Vervain & Catnip with hal sansone | North Mississippi Regional Park
Walk with an herbalist: The History of this Land and its Gifts | Kroening Nature Center
Walk with an herbalist: Weed Medicine with Emily Pearson Ryan | Kroening Nature Center
Minnesota DNR Parks and Trails
JG Everest
Wild River State Park
Multidisciplinary artist JG Everest composed and designed a series of site-specific sound + performance installations for various sites and trails around the park, including the Nevers Dam Overlook & River Trail, The Visitor Center, The Old Logging Trail, The Prairie Observation Deck, and The Sky Observation Area. These “Sound Gardens” are outdoor spatial “symphonies,” composed in 3D, played back through dozens of small speakers, each playing a different part of the whole piece of music and hidden amongst the trees and tall grasses. Every step, every turn of the head, every bird song and shifting breeze results in a different mix and arrangement of the music.
These immersive soundtracks are intended to be an accompaniment to the concerts and dances that are already occurring in nature, bringing us into harmony with life all around us. They are often accompanied live by roving musicians, poets, dancers, and storytellers. The goal is to create dynamic, activating environments in which visitors can feel grounded and connected, with their own creativity and empowerment sparked by the magic around them.
Everest’s residency culminated with a four-weekend Festival Of Belonging that also included art-making workshops, yoga and Qi Gong classes, nature talks, and other interpretive programs.
Find more on JG’s page about his MNPAiR residency.
Festival of Belonging | Wild River State Park
August 30–31 (Labor Day Weekend)
Sept 12–14: Look to the Stars & Night Sky Sound Garden (Sept 12)
Sept 20–21 (Closing Weekend): Look to the Stars & Night Sky Sound Garden (Sept 20)
Everest featured multiple new sound gardens during the last weeks of his residency from August 23 to September 21.
All events were free and family friendly.
Wild River Poetry | Wild River State Park
Spatial Sounds in Nature | Wild River State Park
Earth Day Sound Garden | Wild River State Park
Sugarbush Sound Garden | Wild River State Park
Artist JG Everest’s Sugarbush Sound Garden has been presented many times, including in the UK, Canada, and California, but rarely has it been part of an actual sugarbush. The artist was excited to share this Sound Garden as part of the Sugarbush and Maple Syrup Day activities at Wild River State Park and to celebrate the Anishinaabe New Year. Park visitors were invited to wander in the outdoor Sound Garden, an immersive concert you can move through, along with learning how to identify a Sugar Maple Tree and tap it for sap, and experiencing Ojibwe language and culture with Nashké Games.
Winter Sound Garden at Candlelight Event | Wild River State Park
James Everest, the artist-in-residence at Wild River, offered a sound garden outside the visitor center. Live music inside. Refreshments at the trail center and visitor center. Bonfire as large as a house!
Monica Rojas + Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns
Lake Bemidji State Park (Bemidji)
While in residence at Lake Bemidji State Park, Monica and Nicole learned about and connected with the Bemidji community, park staff, and the natural world of the park. Their stays at the park totaled 52 days, over 7 visits. In the colder months, they enjoyed a camper cabin. In the warmer months, they enjoyed a tent.
They planned and facilitated 30 events and workshops, working with 500 participants. These included documentary screenings with discussions, felted lantern making, ice painting with native plants, interactive carnivorous plant puppet performances, mending circles, creating and photographing temporary nature art with park visitors and local youth groups, and workshops in town at the library. They also took advantage of Free Park Day in June to host a free family photo event, as well as a cooking demo and story slam with local organizations.
Working in five local schools with a variety of grades, they designed patches, as well as stickers and temporary tattoos—available for free at the ranger station—based on the students’ love of the outdoors. They also developed art backpack kits (Art Packs) available for visitors to check-out for free from the park Visitor Center, had convertible bench/tables installed along trails, and updated the Visitor Center to meet visitor needs by designing fabric to reupholster worn-out chairs, filling exhibit holes with wood carvings of local birds lent by the local woodcarving group, painting game boards on tables, rearranging furniture, hanging photos of artwork created by visitors, building a new bookshelf, and selecting and adding a large collection of diverse books about nature with the Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park.
“Most importantly,” say the artists, “we learned many beautiful lessons with nature as a collaborator.”
Carnivorous Plant Puppets | Lake Bemidji State Park
The public were invited to join Artists-in-Residence Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns and Monica Rojas to explore the carnivorous plants that live in the bog. Artists used puppets to show and explain the wonders of these unique bog plants. Performances occurred at regular intervals for interested park guests.
This drop-in event was held at the end of the bog boardwalk by Big Bog Lake.
Nature Journaling | Lake Bemidji State Park
Members of the public joined Artists-in-Residence Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns and Monica Rojas to explore the art of nature journaling for relaxation, mindfulness, reflection and science. All supplies were provided.
All skill levels and ages welcomed with grown-up support. This drop-in event was held at the Visitor Center.
Nature Discovery Table: The Colors of Nature | Lake Bemidji State Park
Artists-in-Residence Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns and Monica Rojas invited the public to explore the colors of nature with rocks, leaves and pinecones in the park and learn about the science behind the colors.
All ages welcomed with grown-up support.
Stickers and temporary tattoos | Lake Bemidji State Park
Monica and Nicole worked with schools around Bemidji to design stickers and temporary tattoos for Lake Bemidji State Park.
On June 26, they asked everyone to help with storm cleanup efforts by staying out of the park. When the park reopened their gates on Friday, June 27 at 4:00pm, the artists invited the public to please pick up a free sticker at the ranger station, and asked folks to thank the rangers for all the work they did to ready the park for visitors.
Pop-Up card and envelope-making activity inspired by William Shakespeare’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" | Bemidji Public Library
The course of true love never did run smooth… but a handmade gift always goes over well! Lake Bemidji State Park artists-in-residence Monica Rojas and Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns invited the public to join a Pop-Up card and envelope-making activity inspired by William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on Saturday, June 21, at the Bemidji Public Library. All materials were provided.
Lantern Meet-and-Make: Felted and Paper Lanterns | Lake Bemidji State Park
The public were invited to meet the park’s artists in residence and make winter lanterns to brighten the season.
Participants chose to paint a paper lantern using materials from nature or try felting to make a cozy wool lantern. This was a great opportunity to ask questions of the artists in residence and learn about upcoming projects.
All ages were welcome with grown-up support. This drop-in event was held in the Visitor Center.
Sam Zimmerman / Zhaawanoogiizhik
Tettegouche State Park
The residency culminated in the design and creation of a Grandfather Teachings walkway, featuring his paintings paired with English and Ojibwemowin. This work about the seven Grandfather Teachings of the Ojibwe will be featured on seven weatherproof aluminum signs along a new walkway in the Nature Play area. These will be installed in spring of 2026.
Additionally, Sam’s residency included the exhibition “Mewadisaad inon odinawemaagana” – He Sits with Relatives. This new collection of work features various animal, bird, and fish relatives that Sam experienced over the ten months throughout his time in Tettegouche State Park. The exhibition ran the entire month of August of 2025 with an artist reception on August 22 in the Tettegouche State Park Visitor Center. The permanent public art installation pieces were unveiled to the public for the first time during the reception.
The artist also participated in a snowshoe lacing workshop early in his residency and met with local students at the park. Find out more about Sam’s Tettegouche snowshoe lacing event through a video from Northern News Now.
Artist Statement, August 2025:
This past spring, an amik (beaver) was enjoying his best life along the Asin-badakide-ziibi (Baptism River). I would often go down and visit the mouth of the river to see how the landscape was changing under his care. I learned that Ma’iingan (wolf) stop along the river when they visit Tettegouche State Park. I added the ma’iingan in the background far away enough from the amik. This piece was my final piece to be completed for the MNPAiR residency exhibition now displayed in the Tettegouche State Park Visitors center through September 1. This piece is my largest piece yet, 30” x 40.”
Title: Asin-badakide-ziibi Amik / Baptism River Beaver
Date: July 2025
Size: 30” x 40”
Snowshoe Lacing Workshop | Tettegouche State Park
Art show + opening reception, with students from William Kelley High School | Tettegouche State Park
Following My Spirit Home with Sam Zimmerman Artist & Author Talk | Silver Bay Public Library
Kids Story Time & Art Class with Sam Zimmerman, MNPAiR Artist-in-Residence, Tettegouche | Silver Bay Public Library
"Mewadisaad inon odinawemaagana" - He Sits with Relatives | Tettegouche State Park
This new collection of work features various animal, bird, and fish relatives that Sam experienced over the past ten months throughout his time in Tettegouche State Park. The exhibition will run the entire month of August with an artist reception on August 22nd from 5:30pm – 7:00pm in the Tettegouche State Park Visitor Center. The permanent public art installation pieces will be unveiled to the public for the first time during the reception.
This reception will also be celebrating the ending of the Artist Residency that Sam Zimmerman has been participating in since the fall of 2024.
What is a ‘pilot’?
A pilot is a program attempted for the first time. We hope to learn from our process together. We will gather information that may help us improve future programs. To a large extent, a pilot is a learning opportunity for everyone involved.
What is the MNPAiR (Minnesota Parks Artist-in-Residence) opportunity?
MNPAiR is a paid opportunity for artists that aims to address unique opportunities and challenges around creating belonging in our public parks. Unlike traditional residency opportunities, this pilot program focuses on how artists can serve as partners to and ambassadors for the parks and contribute not just art, but ideas. 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 are part of a cohort of 9, and meet with other artists regularly to foster a sense of community and to share ideas.
Legacy funds dedicated to coordination among partner agencies is funding artists’ time, and project materials/expenses. The artwork will be determined in collaboration between the artist and the host site. Artists are also building 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.
The parks are involved in the following:
- Serve as host site and primary connector for the artist
- Provide clear information re: space access and lodging (where available)
- Provide site onboarding/orientation for the artist
- Establish a primary contact for artist
- Maintain dialogue with the artist around proposed ideas
- Communications around artist’s projects and/or events
Artists are expected to:
- Engage with the park during the majority of the 12-month residency (Engagement and availability of park staff will differ by site. Artists will negotiate this with their host site.)
- Produce artistic outputs while in the residency (Please note that this is not a traditional public art residency. Artworks can take a wide variety of forms including, but not limited to, community engagement events, performances, or sculptures)
- Participate in cohort activities including: onboarding, virtual check-ins, evaluation and feedback sessions
- Provide own transportation to/from sites
Guiding Values of the Project
Curiosity, Belonging, & Discovery – These are the values that guide the activities of the Creating Belonging cohort in the MNPAiR program. Participants in the program will be asked to commit to these values.
- Curiosity: a genuine curiosity around both the opportunity, the sites and the systems
- Belonging: an interest in exploring the physical and abstract concepts of place and belonging
- Discovery: a desire to investigate group and individual processes, materials, etc. as a path to the discovery of news things and ways of knowing
FAQs
Project Scope + Application Process
What is the vision for the future of this program?
We hope that it is repeated regularly in the future.
What is the goal for the theme of belonging as part of this residency?
The overarching goals are to welcome and engage current and new audiences, define, and advance the value and benefits of public art in parks and trails, enrich visitor experiences, implement programs to integrate public art with nature, and enhance interpretive program opportunities to create a stronger sense of belonging and purpose for all Minnesotans in outdoor recreation. The intended outcome is to create an opportunity to foster deep community engagement and relationship building in state and regional parks, improve access to Minnesota parks and trails, and increase collective appreciation for park uses, outdoor recreation, and natural resources, especially in underserved communities
Will a single park take more than one resident?
Only if they apply as a team.
Can I partner with another artist?
Yes, you are able to apply as a collective or team. To do so, please select the option for team in Submittable.
Are the parks a part of the process of picking the artists?
Yes, the parks will be given a list of top candidates for their site and will select their top choice.
What are the criteria for selecting artists? Is there a rubric?
Selection criteria is as follows:
1. Community Involvement
– Extent and depth of historical community involvement
– Specific examples and outcomes of community engagement
– Innovation and effectiveness in involving communities
2. Relationship to Land, Minnesota, and Parks
– Clarity and depth of connection to the land, Minnesota, and parks
– Personal or professional experiences that illustrate this relationship
– Insight into how this relationship influences their practice
3. Artist Interest and Alignment
– Understanding of the program and its objectives
– Clear articulation of what aspects of the program are appealing
– Alignment of the program’s goals and values [curiosity, belonging, discovery] with personal or professional aspirations
4. Collaboration Style
– Description of preferred collaboration methods
– Examples of past successful collaborations
-Adaptability and openness to different collaboration styles
5. Sample Work – Quality and relevance of sample work to the program’s focus
– Demonstrated skills and competencies in the submitted works – Diversity and innovation in the work samples
6. Interest in Top 3 Sites
– Clear and compelling reasons for interest in each site
– Alignment of site interest with project goals and personal or team expertise
Is artistic experience reviewed as professional experience or just general artistic creation?
“Professional experience” as a community-focused artist.
How do we know what the sites are looking for?
This will come out in the selected artist’s initial conversations with the host site.
Can you talk about our research sources?
This will vary from host site to host site and will be solidified between the artist and the host site.
Research will be determined by each artist’s specific practice and work plan, but could involve: understanding the flora and fauna within the host site, looking through visitor data to understand who has visited the parks in the past, understanding marketing and programming campaigns, etc.
Can we pick a park that is not on the list?
No.
Is there any point in the application where we are able to share our projected yearlong plan or share ideas about how we hope to use our residency?
No. You shouldn’t formulate that before the residency; only in consultation with the Host Site.
How are Forecast and the host parks thinking about ownership of intellectual property developed during the residency? Who will own it?
The Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA) applies for this and all Forecast-involved projects.
Will you put out a tentative schedule for the Forecast meetings, onboarding for August?
Only for finalists.
When will you notify the artists chosen for residency?
August.
Time Management + Park Expectations
When will cohort meetings take place?
We will poll the group of selected artists to see what days/times work best. We will try to work with everyone’s schedules to find the most convenient time for all.
Can I stay overnight at the park?
Possibly. Some sites have camping and/or lodging available. In their descriptions in this call, parks have indicated whether they have lodging accommodations. You may speak further with your selected park or site about this.
Are there specific issues that parks are seeking to improve or resolve with artist assistance?
It’s a focus on Belonging.
Could you elaborate a bit on what a 3, 6 and 9-month plan looks like and how it works?
A 3, 6, and 9-month plan is a strategic roadmap used to outline goals, milestones, and artistic output over specific time periods within the project. These plans will help the selected artist ensure clarity, focus, and measurable progress over time, and will clearly communicate what they will be doing, when, with whom, and why. This will be developed as part of the cohort.
Are the Cohort Activities part of the 20 hours/week?
Yes.
What would happen if you wanted to drop out in the middle of the residency?
We are interested in artists who can commit to the entire length of the residency. We understand that life happens. Should you have to leave the residency after starting, there may be financial and contractual obligations. There will also be an impact on the host sites, the project, and relationships with community members.
Have parks expressed any interest in specific things or just open to working with artist’s ideas?
We are encouraging all parties to come together and really begin this process together vs. coming in with plans. The parks may share needs/interests in the process but we want people to come in with an open mind.
Do you know if staff expect folks to come in person once a week, once a month or is it entirely different based on site? Is there a way to see which sites may expect which frequencies of in-person visits?
It really does vary by site and artists.
Will artists be expected to assist in the daily running of the park, or attending meetings having to do with other issues at the park?
That is not meant to be an expectation. An artist could be curious to engage in those activities, but that’s not the expectation.
Regarding time distribution of activities, would pre-scheduled trips exclude me from applying?
That would not exclude you.
Can the time be structured in intensives? For example, Can I negotiate three or four 1-2 week intensive times to be at a park during strategic, mutually beneficial times?
Yes. The expectation is that artists will spend an average of 20 hours/week on this project over the course of the 12 month residency. That may mean more hours some weeks and less hours others.
Creative Practice / Preferred Media / Public Art
Are there preferred media/art forms?
No. All disciplines are welcome.
Could designing community be considered as an artistic expression?
Yes.
How can a writer fit into this project? Does it need to be published works or just pieces centered a relevant theme?
If you’re asking about samples, the works don’t need to be published. A writer could do a lot in this residency!
Can you give an example of what you consider a public art project?
The residency isn’t focused on public art projects. The role of the artist is to create greater belonging in the park. How that ‘belonging’ manifests can look like a lot of different things: workshops, performances, physical visual works, etc.
Can one change discipline during the year. Say, from painting to sound, or visual art to dance?
We are selecting an artist, not a medium, so you’d be able to move between media if that’s how you practice as an artist.
If I were to do mural work, do the parks have wall spaces?
This will vary between sites. Once artists are selected, they will develop a work plan in collaboration with the host/park site.
Can we find out in advance what kind of space will be available for the artist to use in the different parks throughout the year? For example, will there be a designated “studio” space? Indoor or outdoor?
Some of the amenities, structures, etc are listed on the application.
I am a lover of the outside and my work has to do with home/belonging, but doesn’t particularly integrate nature right now (trees, etc), how much nature expertise is required?
Great question! It’s not at all required.
Is the final product expected to be a permanent art installation? Or temporarily held workshops?
This could be a variety of things! Selected artists will work with their park/host site to determine the final outcome.
Budget + Insurance
If you apply as a team, do you equally split the payment, or can that be flexible?
This should be determined by the team.
Can I pay a collaborator from the Materials Budget? A researcher, dancer or writer etc?
If you have someone in mind you would like to collaborate with, consider applying with them as part of your artist team. The materials budget can be used for goods and services related to the project, and this will be developed as part of your collaborative work plan with the host site.
Will transportation be covered?
No. You should expect to cover transportation costs from your artist stipend.
Will we have to get pre-approval of the use of the money by Forecast?
Yes.
Will we be expected to have a detailed budget in advance? ie: materials etc? and could the materials allocation be used toward specialized people assistance or research costs?
This is negotiated over time for those selected.
Does the host site have the money or will the artist be able to control their budget?
Artists each have a $14,000 materials budget that would be for their use.
Further clarification on the budget lines, Does the applicant have to pay themselves $40,000 and use up $14,000 for supplies or can they fluctuate those two lines as needed?
The salary is given directly to the artist. The materials budget is not. The plan would help you figure out what to buy.
Will forecast or DNR or parks cover artistic insurance while in residence?
Insurance will be the responsibility of the artist.
Can I purchase liability insurance using money from the Materials Budget?
No.
Are we independent contractors? Can we use an entity to receive the money such as a LLC or non profit org?
You will be considered an independent contractor. If you have an LLC or use a fiscal sponsor, that is totally ok!
Is the 40K paid out bi-weekly?
No. It would be paid at regular intervals, but not bi-weekly.
Submit questions to
hawona@forecastpublicart.org
INFO SESSION
Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 4:00 pm
This information session will be recorded and posted for those unable to attend.
TIMELINE
ABOUT
Minnesota DNR Parks and Trails Division
Our vision is to create unforgettable park, trail, and water recreation experiences that inspire people to pass along the love for the outdoors to current and future generations.
In addition to natural resources restoration and management, the division administers grants-in-aid to local units of government who partner with local volunteer clubs to maintain 22,000 miles of snowmobile trails, 3,200 miles of off-highway vehicle trails, and 1,100 miles of cross-country ski trails. It is also responsible for Lake Superior Safe Harbors, and stewardship programs for the state’s lakes, rivers and trails.
Metropolitan Council Metropolitan Regional Parks
The Twin Cities metropolitan area is home to a regional parks and trails system that is nationally renowned for its beauty, size, and variety of features.
With 56 regional parks and park reserves totaling more than 54,000 acres, nearly 400 miles of interconnected trails, and 8 special recreation features, the system provides a wealth of opportunities for recreation, exercise, gatherings, and solitude. Our regional parks and park reserves also protect significant green space and wildlife habitat.
The regional parks system draws more than 63 million visits every year — more than the Mall of America. It adds untold value to the livability and attractiveness of our communities.
The Met Council is charged under state law with overseeing the acquisition and development of the regional parks system. We work in partnership with 10 city, county, and special park districts who own and operate the parks and trails to create and maintain one of our region’s greatest assets.
Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission
The commission was established in 2013 to carry out system planning and provide recommendations to the legislature for grants funded by the Legacy Parks and Trails Fund to counties and cities outside the seven-county metropolitan area for parks and trails of regional significance.
Forecast Public Art
Forecast is a non-profit arts organization founded in 1978 by and for artists working in public space. Based in Saint Paul, Minn., and working both locally and nationally, Forecast connects artists with cities, institutions, and communities to courageously tackle the vital issues of our time. Forecast partners with decision-makers and stakeholders on arts and cultural planning efforts and supports public artists with funding, training, and opportunities to create partnerships and advance their public art careers. Forecast also helps others find, select, curate, fund, and commission public artists. Forecast emphasizes access for artists of color, indigenous artists, and groups that are traditionally excluded.
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