Call for Artists and Artist Teams
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Click the images below for site information and photos
Applications are now closed
INTRODUCTION: A NEW RIVERFRONT DESTINATION
Forecast Public Art, in partnership with Ramsey County and project collaborators, invites artists and artist teams to apply for three temporary public art commissions at the RiversEdge site in downtown Saint Paul.
This call is part of a larger effort to transform underutilized riverfront land into a vibrant, connected, and culturally meaningful public space. RiversEdge represents a major public investment in the future of Saint Paul and will link downtown to the Mississippi River while creating new opportunities for gathering, storytelling, and shared civic life.
Artists are invited to propose temporary projects that respond to this moment of transformation before construction begins, and help shape how people experience and connect to the site during its ongoing development, and get them excited for what’s coming in the future.
OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW
Three (3) artists or artist teams will be selected to create temporary, site-responsive artworks at RiversEdge.
Artists must select one (1) site location (Site 1, 2, or 3) as part of their application.
All artworks should:
- Have a theme that includes some sort of connection to the Mississippi River (through visuals, storytelling, movement/form, etc.)
- Tell a story or share a message about this place: Saint Paul, the riverfront, the Mississippi River, the bluffs, etc.
PROJECT SITES
Detailed maps and images are included in the application materials. Artists must select at least one site they would like to be considered for.
Site 1: Kellogg Edge – Jersey Barriers & Chain Link Fence
Theme: Visibility, Geography, and Connection to the River
This site is experienced at speed and from multiple vantage points, including Shepard Road and Kellogg Boulevard. Proposals should prioritize strong visual impact at scale and help establish a clear relationship between downtown and the river.
Successful proposals will:
- Create high visual impact from both near and far viewpoints
- Emphasize connection to the river as a central idea
- Respond to the concept that “geography is here”, making the presence of the river legible from the street
- Work at scale, reading clearly across a long linear condition
Artists are encouraged to consider:
- Bold, large-scale gestures or repeated elements
- Graphic, sculptural, or spatial approaches that carry visualdistance
- Strategies that transform barriers into a visible gateway or signal
Site 2: Bluff Retaining Wall
Theme: Flow, Color, Movement, and Story
This site should emphasize fluidity, vibrancy, and layered storytelling, transforming the wall into an expressive and connective surface.
Priority qualities include:
- Flow: Avoid rigid compositions; emphasize movement and continuity
- Color: Strong, vivid use of color is highly encouraged
- Kinetic: Suggest or incorporate motion, rhythm, or change over time
- Connective: Link people, place, and experience across the site
- Cultural Storytelling: Reflect narratives of place, identity, and community
Artists are encouraged to consider:
- Dynamic compositions that move across the wall
- Color-forward approaches that shift perception of the site
- Layered storytelling—abstract, symbolic, or literal
- Work that engages both passersby and those spending time nearby
- Please note that as it is structural, we cannot attach anything to the wall and since it is temporary, cannot apply the art directly to the wall (like paint).
Site 3: Ground Plane at the Base of the Bluff
Theme: Perspective, Scale, and Multi-Level Experience
This site should operate across multiple vantage points, including views from above (Kellogg), at grade, and from a distance including from and across the river.
Priority qualities include:
- Aerial experience: The work should read strongly from above, in addition to ground level
- Perspective: Consider how the work changes from up close vs. far away
- Scale / Visibility: Ensure the work is legible at a distance while still engaging at human scale
Artists are encouraged to consider:
- Large-scale ground-based or spatial interventions
- Works that reveal different readings depending on viewpoint
- Pattern, form, or composition that is legible from elevation
- Strategies that engage movement through and around the work
- People will not be able to access the site to engage with the artwork. The piece should allow for circulation at the site after installation. There is a drive lane that will need to remain accessible, depicted
Note to Artists:
Across all sites, proposals should be durable, safe, and appropriate for temporary outdoor installation within an active and evolving site.
PROJECT GOALS
Selected artists will contribute to:
- Strengthening connections between people and the Mississippi River
- Supporting downtown Saint Paul vitality
- Reflecting layered cultural, ecological, and historical narratives
- Activating the site during phased development, and creating excitement for what is to come at RiversEdge.
BUDGET
One artist/team will be selected to do a temporary artwork at each location. Each selected artist or artist team will receive a not-to-exceed commission of $10,000.
This is an all-inclusive project budget, covering:
- Artist fees
- Design development
- Fabrication and materials
- Transportation and equipment
- Installation and deinstallation
- Insurance, permits, and contingency
Artists are expected to develop proposals that are realistic and achievable within this budget and appropriate for temporary outdoor installation.
PROJECT TIMELINE
The schedule below reflects current project planning and is subject to refinement
ELIGIBILITY
Open to:
- Individual artists
- Artist teams
- Interdisciplinary practitioners
- Must be based in the geopolitical boundaries of the state of Minnesota and the Native Nations that share the same geography
Priority consideration will be given to:
- Artists with a connection to Saint Paul or Ramsey County
- Artists with experience in public-facing or site-responsive work
- Artists working in community-engaged or participatory practices
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must submit:
- Letter of Interest
Please include your interest in RiversEdge, which site you are selecting and why, how much you would engage with the community and in what ways, and how you would approach designing your project. Please also touch on the following:- Your a connection to Saint Paul and Ramsey County
- Your experience in public-facing or site-responsive work
- Your experience working in community-engaged or participatory practices
- Site Selection
Clearly indicate Site 1, 2, or 3 in the application form. - Biography or Resume (for each person on the team) (1–2 pages)
- Work Samples
Up to 5. These should show your ability to do a temporary project of a similar budget, theme, or type or artwork.
SUBMISSION PROCESS (SUBMITTABLE)
Applications must be submitted online via Submittable:
https://forecastpublicart.submittable.com/submit
Applicants will be required to:
- Complete all required fields in the application form
- Upload materials in PDF format
- Submit all materials by the stated deadline
Incomplete or late submissions will not be reviewed.
For technical assistance with Submittable, applicants may visit:
https://www.submittable.com/help/submitter/
For questions about the opportunity, contact: Jen Krava, Director of Learning, Grants, and Research at Forecast Public Art: jenk@forecastpublicart.org
For questions about the opportunity, contact: Jen Krava, Director of Learning, Grants, and Research at Forecast Public Art: jenk@forecastpublicart.org
SELECTION PROCESS & EVALUATION CRITERIA
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of project partners, arts professionals, and community representatives using the following criteria:
1. Artistic Strength & Quality
- Clarity and originality of past work
- Strong visual, conceptual, or experiential approach
2. Responsiveness to Site
- Alignment with selected RiversEdge location
- Consideration of physical, social, and environmental conditions
3. Public Engagement & Experience
- Ability to invite interaction, curiosity, or reflection
- Relevance to diverse audiences and users
4. Feasibility
- Realistic scope relative to budget and timeline
- Appropriate materials and durability for outdoor installation
5. Alignment with Project Goals
- Connection to riverfront, place, and community
- Contribution to an inclusive and welcoming public realm
COMMUNITY & CONTEXT
RiversEdge reflects a long-term vision to reconnect Saint Paul to the Mississippi River through investment in public space, infrastructure, and development.
Artists are encouraged to consider:
- The river as a cultural and ecological system
- Indigenous and layered site histories
- Downtown connectivity and movement
- The site as both destination and threshold
A FINAL NOTE TO ARTISTS
RiversEdge is in transition. This is a chance to shape how the public first encounters and experiences this emerging place.
We are seeking artists who are comfortable working in evolving conditions and excited to create work that is both responsive and forward-looking.
More information about The Park at RiversEdge
Project Overview
The Park at RiversEdge represents an opportunity to transform underutilized public land into a dynamic riverfront destination and significant contributor to downtown Saint Paul’s economic and civic redevelopment.
Beginning in 2015, the County has invested in preparing the site for new development which has included hazardous materials abatement, building deconstruction, and bluff stabilization.
In 2022, Ramsey County committed $26 million to the project. Combined with a $6.22 million state investment in 2023, public investment totals almost $50 million to date. This public-private project aims to:
- Expand the tax base and create jobs.
- Enhance vitality through public amenities and prominent public realm.
- Use development of the site to connect people to the river.
- Anchor the River Balcony into design and programming of the site.
- Establish an active ground level including on the river facades.
- Use site and design buildings to maximize views of the river valley.
- Extend public rights-of-way from the downtown through the site to the river.
- Demonstrate innovations in environmentally sustainable design.
- Design with the site’s context in mind and as a continuation of the urban fabric
(651) 641-1128
INFO@FORECAST