Creative City Challenge seeks proposals for interactive public art

Fifth annual competition moves to new site: The Commons

Minneapolis, Minn. (Nov. 3, 2016) - The fifth annual Creative City Challenge based on the theme Climate Chaos | Climate Rising seeks proposals from Minnesota artists, architects and designers. The challenge is a competition for Minnesota-resident architects, landscape architects, urban designers, planners, engineers, scientists, artists, students and individuals of all backgrounds to create and install a temporary, destination artwork, which acts as a sociable and participatory platform for two months of onsite programming. Entries are due by 4:30 p.m. Nov. 28.

The Creative City Challenge is conceived as a showcase for local creative talent, Minneapolis community identities and a tangible symbol of the complex narratives that make up the many stories within our urban landscape.

For 2017, the Creative City Challenge competition moves to The Commons, the new 4.2-acre public green space and an anchor in the Downtown East area’s transformation.

The Commons covers two blocks across from the U.S. Bank Stadium. It’s an active space for the public to relax and play, and in the summer of 2017 it will host large special events including Northern Spark June 10 and the X Games July 13-16. X Games events will include large concerts with 5,000-7,000 attendees. The Commons also hosts a range of other events including community gatherings, company picnics, weddings and events related to the stadium.

The winning Creative City Challenge proposal will receive $50,000 to execute the project. An optional informational session will be conducted 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at the Soap Factory, 514 Second St. SE.

Past Creative City Challenge winners

The Creative City Challenge was developed as a project of the Minneapolis Convention Center with the Minneapolis Interactive Macro Mood Installation (MIMMI) in 2013, Balancing Ground in 2014, mini_polis in 2015, and Wolf and Moose in 2016. The project has now moved to The Commons with new opportunities to help activate and engage the public realm.

The Minneapolis metro area, according to the 2015 Creative Vitality Index, is the sixth most creatively vital among the most populous cities in the U.S. Minneapolis is also known for parks and biking, theater and art spaces, balmy summers and bracing winters, a burgeoning food scene and a diversifying population.

The Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy Program of the City of Minneapolis collaborates in the challenge with The Commons and Northern Lights.mn and the Northern Spark festival.

Find more information and apply for the Creative City Challenge here.