Program Impacts
Measuring impacts of Minnesota's first parks artist-in-residence program helped us learn how public systems and artists can work together effectively to broaden who feels welcome in parks.
Image: Tamara Isfeld and John K Sterner, Granite Falls Memorial Park and Douglas County Lake Brophy Park.
Evaluating Impacts
As Minnesota’s first statewide parks artist-in-residence program, MNPAiR was intentionally designed as a pilot. As a pilot project, it was important for us to evaluate the impact of the artists, and learning how public systems and artists can work together effectively. The evaluation centered on artist experience because Minnesota artists are also Minnesota residents—workers, educators, parents, neighbors, and community members. When artists are supported through public investment, Minnesotans benefit. The evaluation focused on the artist experience to understand:
- How artists can work effectively within public systems
- What conditions support strong partnerships
- How public investments can be stewarded responsibly
This learning-first approach ensures that future Legacy investments are even more impactful.
Artists as Partners in Civic Systems
Unlike traditional artist-in-residence programs, MNPAiR artists were embedded within park systems as partners and ambassadors. The MNPAiR projects touched a large array of three main areas:
- People (park system staff, locals and neighbors, artists, volunteers, Native and Indigenous communities, cultural knowledge keepers, community, and elders,)
- Community (community orgs/nonprofits, civic organizations, businesses, schools, and media)
- The natural world (plants, creatures, and the land)
The artists were able to help foster new and deepen existing relationships, partnerships, and collaborations for the future.
Program + Numbers at a Glance
- Funded by Minnesota Legacy Amendment dollars
- 12 Minnesota artists across 9 teams
- 13 parks and trails across 11 counties (Lake, Chisago, Beltrami, Douglas, Yellow Medicine, Wright, Sherburne, Dakota, Ramsey, Hennepin, Olmsted)
- 70+ public events statewide
- 100% of programming was open to park visitors at no additional cost
- $526,000 invested directly in Minnesota’s creative economy
- $360,000 in artist fees
- $166,000 in shared materials stipends
- Year-long, four-season pilot Statewide reach across metro and Greater Minnesota
- Multiple relationships cultivated within MN
Image: Ifrah Mansour, Dakota County Parks.
Why the Legacy Amendment Investment in MNPAiR Matters
This was not a one-time event or capital project—it was an investment in people, relationships, and long-term public value.
Legacy Amendment funding for MNPAiR leveraged existing parks and staff rather than duplicating infrastructure, which maximizes return for taxpayers. Additionally, Legacy funding:
- Strengthened collaboration across three public parks and trails systems
- Invested in Minnesota’s workforce by paying Minnesota artists for their labor and expertise
- Created a sense of belonging in Minnesota’s natural spaces for underserved communities by offering repeated, free public access to creative programming
- Created a replicable infrastructure that can be utilized and sustained in parks and other governmental agencies statewide.
- Provided Minnesotans with a renewed sense of wonder and value in parks infrastructure and programming
Invested directly in Minnesota's creative economy
All programming was open to parks visitors at no additional cost
Park and trail sites
Minnesota counties
Minnesota artists
Access and Expanded Belonging
All MNPAiR programming was available to parks visitors at no additional cost, aligning with the Legacy Amendment’s goal of expanding access to Minnesota’s parks and trails.
Artists created:
- Murals and permanent installations
- Festivals and seasonal celebrations
- Poetry, storytelling, and sound experiences
- Weaving, art-making, and hands-on workshops
- Self-guided tools like mobile apps and art kits
Through more than 70 public events, Minnesotans were invited to experience parks in new, welcoming, and culturally meaningful ways.
Public events statewide
What the Evaluation Shows
Purpose of the Evaluation
As Minnesota’s first statewide parks artist-in-residence program, MNPAiR was intentionally designed as a pilot. The evaluation focused on the artist experience to understand:
- How artists can work effectively within public systems
- What conditions support strong partnerships
- How public investments can be stewarded responsibly
This learning-first approach ensures that future Legacy investments are even more impactful
Key Findings from Artists
Artists consistently reported:
- Strong collaboration with park staff and community partners
- Deeper relationships with local communities
- New approaches to making parks feel welcoming and accessible
- The importance of time and focus to build trust and engagement
Artists also identified clear ways the program can grow stronger with continued funding.
Images: Marlena Myles (pictured with Jackie Bird) and Tanáğidaŋ To Wiŋ, Battle Creek Regional Park; JG Everest, Wild River State Park.
Image: Ifrah Mansour, Dakota County Parks.
Considerations for future MNPAiR Frameworks
- Consider the number of park sites per artist
- Maintain free access to MNPAiR programming
- Support continued impact trackings, such as:
Number of events
Attendance
First-time park visitors
Geographic reach
- Strengthen Cohort Experience for both artists and parks
Recommendations
- The pilot demonstrates clear statewide value and public benefit for the MNPAiR program to continue.
- Position Minnesota as a national leader. MNPAiR is a replicable model for how Legacy funds can support arts, parks, and community belonging.
- Amplify this story to encourage cross-sector partnerships.
- Share this story with your constituents and other legislators to show the value of creative thinking and artistic innovation in meeting strategic goals of a governmental entity while supporting long-term relationship-building between artists, governments, and communities.
Image: Marlena Myles and Tanáğidaŋ To Wiŋ, Battle Creek Regional Park.
Expanding MNPAiR’s Reach
The MNPAiR pilot shows what is possible when Minnesota artists collaborate with Minnesota parks. Artists help parks reach new audiences and enhance their role as places of culture, learning, and connection—while strengthening the creative economy and public trust.
With continued support, MNPAiR can expand its reach, deepen its impact, and deliver even greater value to Minnesotans across the state.
The Minnesota Parks Artists-in-Residence program is a Legacy Amendment success story—supporting Minnesota artists, strengthening public lands, and ensuring that parks belong to all Minnesotans.