PANDEMIC RESPONSE
Adaptation and listening were central to Forecast’s response to the dual pandemics of the COVID-19 health crisis and systemic racism. Almost overnight, 94% of artists lost income and 63% became fully unemployed. We heard that in addition to economic factors, artists and communities were facing social, physical and emotional devastation and that BIPOC artists were disproportionately impacted. With an emphasis on BIPOC artists, we put our focus on helping artists quickly get back to work, sharing advice and technical support with them, supporting the conditions for their health, healing and well-being and strongly advocating for the value of their contributions to meet the challenges of the time. We also launched our Change Lab and centered racial justice as the focus of our work for long-term policy change.
TOOLKIT ON CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO IN-PERSON ARTS-BASED ACTIVITIES
Forecast developed a toolkit for artists and administrators to help them continue working during the pandemic. The toolkit was regularly updated based on examples submitted by artists of how they are adapting to keep arts projects moving forward. Forecast consulting team members and artists Candida Gonzalez and Hawona Sullivan Janzen were key collaborators on the project.
TOOLKITS DOWNLOADED
840
MESSAGES OF HOPE MINI-GRANTS
In response to receiving requests from artists for new support and recognizing that artists are uniquely equipped to creatively respond to public health crises, Forecast created two new artist mini-grant programs. We reallocated $10,000 of our own resources to quickly provide mini-grants to 20 public artists to safely create and share messages of hope within their communities and then raised funds to support an additional 10 artists.
ARTISTS SUPPORTED
30
PRO-BONO CONSULTING SUPPORT
When the pandemic hit we were acutely aware that public art program administrators and artists were navigating unprecedented circumstances. Our Forecast consulting team was well positioned to help them respond to those difficult circumstances so we reallocated our own time and resources to immediately provide pro bono public art consulting nationwide with an emphasis on BIPOC communities. We spent over 300 hours talking with more than 150 artists and leaders nationally in nearly 50 cities across the country, as well as Puerto Rico.
HOURS PROVIDED
300
CREATIVE ENTERPRISE ZONE MURAL FESTIVAL
When Forecast found out the 2020 Chroma Zone Mural festival we were hired to select artists for was going to be postponed, we worked with the Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ) to help them reimagine the event to continue supporting artists and local businisses. The CEZ was able to adapt the initiative to continue to hire artists, create new murals in their neighborhood and allow for a safe, socially distant work environment. We facilitated the selection of these incredible artists for the reimagined initiative: Beatrix*Jar, Reggie LeFlore, Xee Reiter, Wes Winship, Wundr & Roe and Witt Siasoco.
ARTISTS HIRED
7
ARTS & TRANSPORTATION RAPID RESPONSE
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Smart Growth America has led an initiative for transportation agencies to partner with artists to address COVID-related challenges and longstanding inequities in transportation. Forecast facilitated the pairing of artists with selected agencies for the first round of Arts & Transportation Rapid Response (A&TRR) and provided training for both so they could learn how to work together. The projects took place accross the country in San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, Las Vegas, NV, Fergus Falls, MN and Detroit, MI. We will continue this process for round 2 in 2021.
CITIES AFFECTED
5
VIRTUAL EXHIBIT: HENNEPIN COUNTY
For over a decade, Forecast has facilitated an annual exhibit hosted at the Hennepin County Government Center. Due to social distancing, Forecast consultant Tricia Heuring worked with the Hennepin County Multicultural Arts Commmittee to adapt their 2020 exhibit so it could be offered virtually. The exhibit featured work by artists Mayumi Amada and Marlena Myles and explored cultural heritage through various materials that represent the artists' sense of place, identity and home. These complex ideas and themes were presented in a way that invited audiences in, with relatable materials and storytelling.
EXHIBIT VISITORS
842
LOVE LOCAL: BUSINESS DISTRICT REOPENING
Forecast worked with Hennepin County in five business districts as part of their Love Local initiative. This initiative aimed to encourage people to shop at their local business districts while following COVID-19 safety guidelines during the 2020 holiday season. With input from the business community, Forecast hired 21 artists to create public space enhancements in the form of 12 customized geodesic domes and arthouses, as well as creative wayfinding. These eye-catching elements helped to attract people to the districts to safely shop and frequent local restaurants.
DISTRICTS ENHANCED
5
