Forecast Public Art works to fund a diverse group of artists across all career stages, with a focus on supporting and amplifying the artistic work of BIPOC and Native artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, womxn artists, immigrant artists, artists from rural communities, and artists with disabilities. Their value lies in ensuring applicants, panelists, and grantees reflect the racial, cultural, and geographic diversity of the state, aiming to serve the stories and perspectives of both artists and communities.
The Early-Career Artist Research & Development Grant supports Minnesota-based early-career artists in public art-related research and development or the planning phase of a freely accessible public art installation or activity. It covers a wide range of activities from research, planning, community dialogues, site or budget development, to model building, aimed at various forms of public art. These grants are particularly for artists showing significant potential but who are considered under-recognized. The initiative is not for artists who are new to public art but rather early in their art career, regardless of the public aspect. Funded by the Jerome Foundation, the program offers four grants of $2,500 each.