Summer Cypher (Teddy Grimes & Kimani Beard)

2023 Mid-Career Project Grantee | $10,000

Cedar Cypher

Cedar Cypher is an all day celebration of Hip-hop and creativity featuring live graffiti murals, DJ’s, breakdancers, MC’s and more, taking place at The Cedar-Riverside Plaza on the West Bank in the fall of 2023. Through partnership with The Cedar Cultural Center, artist team Summer Cypher will create a temporary space for gathering, creative expression, and the opportunity to just “be.”

Summer Cypher creates authentic Hip-hop spaces where people in community immerse themselves into a process of self-exploration, and critical reflection, within the raw elements of Hip-hop. To create intentional Cyphers to support the healing and liberation of the Hip-hop community. Since 2017 Summer Cypher has created intergenerational, intercultural, interracial space for artistic expression, community building, and innovation. The community members gather at Summer Cypher to have a pure moment to “be” themselves, with family, with friends, or people they just met.

The McKnight Foundation generously enables Forecast to provide Professional Development Grants for mid-career artists seeking to expand their work in the field of public art. Forecast mid- and early-career grants are designed to support independent projects, leadership development, professional development, risk-taking, multidisciplinary approaches, and collaborative problem-solving in the field of public art.