Colorful and playful lettering and an artist portrait promote a virtual info session for artists on Saturday April 25 at 11am on Zoom for the MN State Fair Joyful World Mural Park, with Tricia Heuring of Forecast Public Art, Dudley Voigt from Arts A’Fair, and previous mural park artists from 2024 and 2021, Xena Goldman and Maiya Lea Hartman.

Whimsical graphics with logos from Forecast Public Art, the Minnesota State Fair, and the Minnesota State Fair Foundation for the 2026 Joyful World Mural Park open call for artists, application due May 18.

Artist opportunity Reminder—The MN State Fair and Forecast seek 4 muralists to add new murals to the 2026 mural park.
Info session Sat. April 25, 11am CT bit.ly/InfoJoyfulMural2026

$4,500 stipend (includes materials)
Artists must be 18+ and reside in Minnesota
Apply by May 18 bit.ly/JoyfulMuralPark

MN Parks Artist in Residence: James Everest (2024–25) YouTube video by ForecastPublicArt

Watch MNPAiR artist JG Everest describe how he created site-specific sound & performance installations, and collaborated with other local artists, for his residency with Wild River State Park.

MNPAiR united 3 state agencies, with 12 artists engaging 2,000+ visitors across 13 parks in 11 MN counties

MN Parks Artist in Residence: Ifrah Mansour (2024–25) YouTube video by ForecastPublicArt

In a world trying to convince us we have less and are less, Ifrah Mansour invited us to seek refuge in nature and gather in joy, weaving, and beauty.

Hear from the MNPAiR artist to find out about her residency at Dakota County Parks, where she shared time, fabric, spices and stories with community.

A graphic with logos for Forecast Public Art and Ramsey County depicts downtown Saint Paul and the edge of the Mississippi River as a RiversEdge call for artists, apply by April 26, 2026

Artist opportunity—Minnesota-based artists: apply for 3 temporary, site-responsive public art commissions at the RiversEdge site in downtown Saint Paul: bit.ly/RiversEdgeArtistCall

Apply by April 26, 11:59PM CDT
Stipend for each of 3 selected artists/teams: $10,000

In a playful font, the words Joyful World Mural Park float over a person painting a colorful mural outside, with the call for artists to apply by May 18, 2026, and logos for Forecast Public Art and the Minnesota State Fair.

A smiling Vietnamese person with orange hair and headphones paints a colorful mural at a state fair

Artist opportunity—the Joyful World Mural Park is back! The MN State Fair and Forecast seek 4 muralists to add new murals to the 2026 mural park

Apply by May 18: bit.ly/JoyfulMuralPark
$4,500 stipend (includes materials)
Artists must be 18+ and reside in MN
Info session April 25

📸 Drew Arrieta

Welcome - MNPAiR Minnesota Parks Artists-in-Residence (MNPAiR) is a Legacy Amendment success story—supporting Minnesota artists, strengthening public lands, and ensuring that parks belong to all Minnesotans. Browse ou...

Art deepened visitor connections to MN parks in 2025: bit.ly/mnpair

An ombre design made with dozens of smooth lake rocks shifts in rock colors from red, pink, orange, and cream to pale green and slate grey, dark blue and dark purple

Outside in the shade, a group of people paint a massive mural outlined on a rock wall in the shape of a bird with open wings

Two people weave a star shape out of willow reeds

📸
3. Nature art workshops, Lake Bemidji State Park, Nicole Rojas Oltmanns & Monica Rojas

4. Cassandra Buck, Rochester Quarry Hill Nature Center community mural

5. North Mississippi Regional Park, Stephanie Lindquist co-hosted drop-in willow weaving workshops with Debbie Johnson and Gail Mollner

A painting of a decorated beaver on a rock looking at a lake while a wolf silhouette howls on a bluff in the distance under a starry pink, blue, and black sky with a full moon

A collage of eight scenes with many people smiling as they work on creative weaving

When artists are embedded in government, these unique collaborations lead to unique outcomes.

“This was not a solo experience," a MNPAiR artist explains.

📸
1. Sam Zimmerman, Tettegouche State Park, Asin-badakide-ziibi Amik/Baptism River Beaver

2. Ifrah Mansour, Weaving Abundance, Dakota Cty Parks

Welcome - MNPAiR Minnesota Parks Artists-in-Residence (MNPAiR) is a Legacy Amendment success story—supporting Minnesota artists, strengthening public lands, and ensuring that parks belong to all Minnesotans. Browse ou...

🌟 $526K invested in MN economy
🌟 2K+ visitors engaged
🌟 70+ artist-led events
🌟 15 artworks installed
🌟 13 parks
🌟 12 artists
🌟 11 MN counties
🌟 4 seasons of activities
🌟 3 gov agencies
🌟 1 major goal: Creating Belonging in Minnesota parks

Art deepened visitor connections to MN parks: bit.ly/mnpair

Minnesota Parks Artists-in-Residence (MNPAiR) sizzle reel YouTube video by ForecastPublicArt

What's a state park artist-in-residence? In 2025, 12 artists engaged 2K+ visitors, strengthening belonging in 13 parks across 11 MN counties: youtu.be/oWVqz0qcnrE

MNPAiR is a replicable Legacy Amendment success—supporting artists, strengthening public lands, and ensuring that parks belong to all

Support Forecast Public Art on GiveMN Help us stand with artists who inspire connection and create meaningful change. At Forecast, we believe artists have a powerful role in helping people feel connected, cared for, and hopeful. Artists...

We can fund 20 projects at this time, but are seeking additional funding partners to help us grow the amount of available funds.

If you’re able, please help us reach even more artists with a donation to launch a second grant cycle: bit.ly/GiveMNfpa

• Countering misinformation, racism, divisive narratives;
• Telling stories that affirm dignity, hope, connection, and our shared humanity.
In moments like this, bearing witness is a democratic act. Supporting artists who are doing that work matters.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

the work may be public or private, shared widely or held close.

This opportunity is for Minnesota artists and culture bearers who are:
• Witnessing what is unfolding in their own communities;
• Documenting lived experience of this moment, so it is not erased or misrepresented;

Artists as Witness: Grants for Minnesota artists and culture bearers who are bearing witness - Forecast Public Art Forecast is offering 20 small grants to Minnesota-based artists and culture bearers who are documenting what is happening to their communities, countering disinformation and telling the lived, human s...

what is happening to their communities, countering disinformation and telling the lived, human stories and strength of MN’s people: bit.ly/ArtistWitness

Media: writing, photography, video, design, dance, murals, sound, music, visual art, or other creative forms.

We know truth-telling holds risks;

A decorative text graphic with Forecast Public Art's logo promotes Artists As Witness, Grants for Minnesota artists & culture bearers who are bearing witness.

To our MN community: we support you and are with you in solidarity. We want to support the courageous artists bearing witness to what is happening to Minnesotans. Because of you, history will not forget.
We're offering 20 small $1,000 grants to MN-based artists & culture bearers who are documenting

Stand With Minnesota Donation Directory Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.

dissent. You are standing up for truth and pushing back against racism, violence, misinformation, and hate, reminding us that democracy depends on our ability to see one another in our shared humanity and resist division.

Find ways to support Minnesotans: standwithminnesota.com

stay connected, grounded, and human. We see you showing up in the cold, documenting, feeding, comforting, creating spaces to gather and grieve. We see you showing us what democracy looks like in real time, standing up for freedom of expression, peaceful protest, and the right to disagree and

of our immigrant and refugee neighbors, and everyone who deserves to live free from fear and harm.

Artists and culture bearers, we see you in this moment. Through your voices, bodies, stories, and presence, you are on the front line of courage and care in our communities. You are helping people

A text graphic with Forecast Public Art's logo reads "We [heart emoji] you MN. In solidarity with our community, we will be closed on January 23"

In solidarity with our community, Forecast will be closed on Friday, January 23 to make space for care, connection, and community service.

Our staff will be spending the day with neighbors, family, and friends in collective power. We will always stand up for the human and civil rights

Fish silhouettes woven from willow branches installed among leafy plants.

A hand holds a package of medicinal tea leaves.

A hand holding a small container of salve with an illustration of a hand on the lid.

Art we've been part of this year:

MNPAiR artist Stephanie Lindquist organized free plant walks led by 4 herbalists; participants learned about the power of everyday plants and the land at North Mississippi Regional Park, and received a tea or salve

Jan 17 & 31: Drop-in willow weaving workshops!

A child wearing a pale green coat holds up a collaged paper doll they made with braided Black hair.

A child wearing a bright pink coat holds up a collaged paper doll they made with long braided BIPOC hair.

Signage with a collaged paper doll wearing Native Dakota clothing invites attendees to create a paper doll with the prompt: "who do you see yourself with at Ȟaȟáwakpa (the Mississippi River), and what are you doing?". Notes read “Dakota boat tours,” “want to make art with my mom,” “paths that feel safe,” "easy and open access to water,” ”natural medicine trails", “interactive sculptures,” ”natural medicine trails,” and more.

Art we've been part of this year:

Mni Sota Akitho Festival was an opportunity for community to share ideas for the future Mississippi River Learning Center. Wóokiye wiŋ invited attendees to create a paper doll and share reflections about how they envision spending time at the river.

A green, pink and white mural of cartoon snakes and other creatures among various plants and leaves, painted on a long, curving textured brick retaining wall.

A green, pink and white mural of cartoon snakes and other creatures among various plants and leaves, painted on a long, curving textured brick retaining wall.

A green, pink and white mural of cartoon snakes and other creatures among various plants and leaves, painted on a long, curving textured brick retaining wall.

Looking back at artwork we've been part of this year:

“The idea comes from the wall owner suggesting planting ivy to take over the wall to thwart any graffiti in the future. ...I kept returning to the notion that ivy, plants, and other nature will outlive all of us."
—Mike Davis, Chroma Zone artist

A large mural in a pop art comic book style on an exterior brick wall under a blue sky depicts a girl sitting next to a pile of books while reading a book.

Looking back at artwork we've been part of this year:

"My sleeping lady [concept] didn’t represent the area in the way that she [once] did. I decided it was time for a change, too. She is no longer asleep... and she is growing, just like the area that surrounds her."
—Biafra, Chroma Zone artist

A person in the woods wears a sturdy shoulder pack emblazoned with a circular fabric patch with the words "ART PACK" in the middle. Surrounding the words in a color wheel are cross-stitched colored pencils in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Next to each pencil is a plant or other natural item in the same color family such as a flower or feathers.

An Art Pack spread out on a sketching table by a park trail includes sewn pouches with mark-making materials, sketchbook, and a nature journaling book.

Young students work with brushes and red paint on creative activities.

Nine different Lake Bemidji State Park stickers feature hand drawn scenes of water crafts on a lake, birch bark and mushrooms, a tent and campfire by the water, a fish on a line, autumn leaves, and other park scenes along with the message "designed by Gene Dillon and AWCL students."

Art we've been part of this year:

MNPAiR artists Monica Rojas & Nicole Rojas-Oltmanns helped students design stickers & temporary tattoos (free at Lake Bemidji State Park ranger station), and created Art Packs (free checkout at the park Visitor Center); with local fabric & help from high schoolers.

Two women smile as they work on a tabletop weaving project together.

A woman sits on a porch and pets a dog next to a sign that reads Residencia de Artistas.

A colorful textile.

Several people gather around a table outdoors.

Artwork we've been part of this year:

Our grantees inspire us! To deepen her commitment to a public art that is community-driven, with Forecast grant support, Cecilia Cornejo Sotelo traveled to Chile to join embroidery workshops & meet with textile artists.

What's your favorite new public art?

A detailed design covering a municipal utility box features an early twentieth century map of the city of Saint Paul during the Civil War era with a monochrome portrait referencing the figure Clara Eva Hardenbrook, who fought for women's right to vote.

A detailed design covering a municipal utility box features a map of the city of Saint Paul during the Civil War era with a monochrome portrait referencing Joseph Farr and the Underground Railroad, honoring the pre–Civil War efforts to free enslaved people brought north by visiting plantation owners.

Detailed designs covering two side-by-side municipal utility boxes feature maps of the city of Saint Paul, referencing Phalen Creek and Trout Brook (Swede Hollow), reflect on a sacred Dakota site that later became a haven for waves of immigrants seeking new beginnings, and on the cycles of migration, labor, loss, and renewal that have shaped its waterways and surrounding land.

Art we've been part of this year:

Stef Kiihn transformed utility boxes to reflect the identity, memory, and vitality of St Paul. Her designs celebrate stories of the Underground Railroad, the suffragist movement, and more, offering a new way to see into the history and peoples of MN's capital.

At sunset, group of people stand in a park prairie by a native plant garden listening to a person speaking.

On a snowy day a person wearing a winter coat holds up a paper with a design and a mobile phone on camera mode displaying that design over the live view of the landscape behind.

A winding path in a green park filled with people walking together, some in Native clothing like ribbon skirts.

At a green park, a group of people gather around a table for a creative activity.

Artwork we've been part of this year:

Marlena Myles and Tara Perron held 4 community celebrations at Battle Creek Park uplifting Dakota ancestral teachings, modern Indigenous artists & artistry and seasonal community-building activities. They also created a medicine garden and an outdoor classroom.

A mural on an exterior brick wall features swirling green, blue, and purple shapes evoking water, bubbles and seashell spirals.

We're looking back at creative work we've been part of this year:

“This mural is a blend of both digital and natural worlds, combining a saturated aesthetic with a lot of different patterns and graphic detailing."
—Anna Charney, Chroma Zone muralist

What was your favorite new public art in 2025?

A bronze sculpture of a little Black girl holding her hands in the shape of a heart.

Art we've been part of this year:

In West Plains, MS, our Midwest Memory grantee, Lincoln School Project, added 2 bronze statues to restored grounds. Their new Reflection Plaza—dedicated on the anniv. of the Brown v Board of Education ruling—celebrates the school’s history and role in the community

Two young people and an adult wearing coats stand at a lookout over Lake Superior under a cloudy blue sky. The adult points toward the horizon.

A painting of a decorated beaver on a rock looking at a lake while a wolf silhouette howls on a bluff in the distance under a starry pink, blue, and black sky with a full moon.

Three people look at a painting resting on a tabletop easel depicts a black raven cawing under a full moon in a sky swimming with stars.

Art we've been part of this year:

MNPAiR artist Sam Zimmerman spent the year exploring and learning about the environment and inhabitants of Tettegouche State Park.

A new Grandfather Teachings walkway will include his paintings paired with English & Ojibwemowin, on 7 weatherproof aluminum signs.