Artist in Residence (AiR) 2021 offered creative exploration, growth, and connection to our neighboring Minneapolis communities. Co-hosted by Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board staff, AiR 2021 was co-created with local artists (Courtney Cochran, Bayou a.k.a. Donald Thomas, Graci Horne, Maggie LaMorie, Ron Brown, Jordan Hamilton, Baki Baki Baki, Keegan Xavi, Gustavo Boada, and Madeline Helling), Mia’s Art in the Park program (Crystal Celeste Price), and Hope Community’s Parks and Power program (Shruthi Kamisetty and Carmen Bustamante).

Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), queer, trans, young, and women artist leads shaped the content, themes, and structure of arts-based programming across Minneapolis Parks, reflecting a legacy of creative and joyful alternatives to the history of harm done in these public spaces. Through AiR 2021, this multi-partner collaboration brought art-making centered on relationship-building through resource and creative skill-sharing to the city parks.