4.1. BPASR 04-15-2024CMAB Public Art Grant Application
City of Elk River
4/3/24
1. Applicant Type – Select Applicant Type. Based on your selection, the coordinated group of
questions will be available to complete.
a. This section for SCHOOLS or Local GOVERNMENT
i. City Contact- i.e. city manager, chief administrative officer, Principal,
financial manager o Name; Title; Phone Number; Email Address
Joshua Mollan
Economic Development Specialist
763-635-1041
jmollan@elkrivermn.gov
ii. Board Officer Contacts – List names, title and email address or phone
number for all board officers.
Dan Tveite - EDA President: 763-670-2901
Mike Beyer - EDA Vice President: 763-241-3949
Jeff Hartwig - EDA Treasurer: 612-363-3587
Charlie Blesener - EDA Commissioner: 763-238-7495
Cory Grupa - EDA Commissioner: 612-369-3055
Jennifer Wagner - EDA Commissioner: 612-741-1619
Matthew Westgaard - EDA Commissioner: 612-889-6794
ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS
The Public Art Program is scored using four criteria: Artistic Merit & Quality, Demonstrated
Need and Ability. Each criterion has a series of statements that reviewers are asked to
consider when reviewing and scoring an application. When completing a grant application,
refer to the criteria statements listed beneath each heading. Strong proposals will address all
applicable criteria in the narrative responses. Any applicant with two or more outstanding
grants may have additional conditions applied to this grant, if awarded. Contact CMAB if
you have questions.
ARTISTIC MERIT/QUALITY - 10 of 30 points
Evaluators use the following criteria when reviewing this section of the application:
1) Proposed public art demonstrates creativity, mastery of craft, and is designed by qualified
and experienced artists.
2) Proposed public art will build a deeper understanding and appreciation of the art form.
3) Public art will contribute artistic, cultural and/or educational value include to the
communities served.
4) The public art project advances the applicant’s mission or goals related to public art and
builds upon past programming.
5) Ability to create understanding and awareness of art through community engagement,
and/or outreach to underserved communities.
6) Proposed public art is shaped or influenced by the identified community and reflects their
unique needs and interests
2. Mission Statement – Applicants that do not have a mission statement should provide a
statement that outlines the goals and values of their group.
Because the Elk River Beautification and Public Art Committee knows that the
arts are an important tool in developing pride in one’s community, we strive to
provide affordable access to quality arts to diverse groups within the community.
We engage Minnesota artists and residents to develop and produce permanent
art installations that speak to a broad spectrum of people in the Elk River
community.
3. Proposal Name – Proposal Name and plan summary, provide a name and brief one
sentence description.
“Where Energy Flows” A mosaic project by Carey Dean proposed for Furniture
and Things Community Event Center.
4. Describe the public art project – Refer to the criteria statements above Choose ONE of
the following three formats: Written, Audio or Video recording. Evaluators are directed to
focus on the content of the narrative (not production quality or writing ability) but
applicants should take steps to ensure that the description submitted is easy to see, hear
and/or read. Written transcripts of audio/video recordings will be provided to evaluators to
accompany audio/ video narratives.
Overall, the narrative does a good job responding to criteria. Consider including
narrative discussing how the artist was identified, what criteria were used in
assessing artists, any community involvement in that process, etc.
Project Summary
"Where Energy Flows" is an eye-catching mosaic envisioned by local artist Carey
Dean. This exciting project, proposed for the recently constructed Furniture and
Things Community Event Center in Elk River, aims to capture the vibrant energy
of the rivers that traverse the community and their significant impact on the
city’s history, culture, and identity. The final mosaic will be a permanent public
artwork, supporting a sense of place, community pride, and continued public art
appreciation.
Artist Background
Carey Dean is a local artist who excels at nature inspired work. Her work has
been exhibited internationally and commissioned for public spaces throughout
the United States. Ideal for interior spaces, her stained-glass mosaics are
representational and abstract depictions of natural formations and dramatic
American landscapes. As a public artist, Carey strives to capture the unique
character of a region, create a welcoming ambiance, and promotes a sense of
pride of place.
Project Narrative
The Elk and Mississippi Rivers have been the flowing life of Elk River for
centuries. It carved the landscape, powered early industries, and continues to be
a source of recreation and natural beauty. “Where Energy Flows” aspires to
celebrate this enduring connection between the rivers and the city.
Concept and Design
The mosaic, designed by local artist Carey Dean, will be a 7’ by 4’ mosaic,
prominently displayed within the newly constructed Furniture and Things
Community Event Center. The artwork will depict an abstract representation of
the view of the Mississippi River from Elk River. The piece will feature slightly
reflective glass in colors inspired by the local landscapes, a variety of blues,
greens, and browns, bringing color and subtle reflected light into the
architectural space. “Where Energy Flows” will inspire its viewers and heighten
their appreciation for fine art in and out of the community.
Community Engagement
We envision an engaging process for members of the Beautification and Public
Art Committee and other residents to assist in the exploration of the natural
areas that will become the inspiration for the composition of Carey Dean’s
mosaic. Those intertwined in the community will know firsthand where the
ultimate beauty lies in Elk River. The collaborative approach fosters a sense of
ownership and pride in the artwork. Residents will not only be viewers but
guiding members, leaving their mark on a permanent symbol of their
community’s vibrant energy.
Connection to Mission and Goals
This project is guided by the Elk River Public Art Plan which addresses the
current arts scene, public art policies, guidance for public art, and initiatives to
further public art in the City. As a result, the Elk River Economic Development
Authority has dedicated funds to improving and maintaining public art in the city
and is committed to contributing a significant portion of the funds needed to
complete this project. “Where Energy Flows” will satisfy the four goals set forth
by the Elk River Public Art Plan: Public art should represent the community and
help create a sense of place; public art should be leveraged for positive economic
benefit and development; engage the community in the process of public art; and
support public artists.
Selection Process
The Beautification and Public Art Committee published a public art RFP in
January 2024 on multiple artist-facing platforms. We received interest from six
artists and by the deadline in mid-February we received three proposals. The
proposals were brought back to the committee and scored on a 100-point
rubric. “Where Energy Flows” by Carey Dean scored the highest and was
recommended to the Economic Development Authority (EDA) in March for
approval of a $10,000 donation. The EDA was supportive of the project and
unanimously approved the full donation.
5. Start Date - Activities described in the grant proposal must begin AFTER the board review
date: May 9, 2024
9/2024
6. End Date - Activities must be complete within 12 months of the board review date.
5/2025
7. Location of Public Art – Provide the Name, street address and the name of the property
owner.
“Where Energy Flows” is proposed within Furniture and Things Community
Event Center, 1000 School Street NW Elk River, MN 55330, which is owned by
the City of Elk River.
8. Include a rendering or an example of the proposed public art. Examples include
designs or schematics for proposed work, similar works installed elsewhere, etc. Include
examples that will help to communicate how the finished art will look or sound.
(attached)
9. Example Description – Describe how the provided example relates to your proposal.
If necessary, direct reviewers to specific images, pages or a specific 7 minutes of audio/video
The style of “Where Energy Flows” will be a custom variation of Carey Dean’s
existing parallelogram-style mosaic as seen in the South Dakota Government
Center in Brookings, SD. The proposed project will utilize inspiration from the
layout and color of the natural areas of Elk River.
DEMONSTRATED NEED – 10 of 30 points
Evaluators use the following criteria when reviewing this section of the application:
1) The proposed public art is well designed to address the identified community/audience's
specific interests and circumstances, as understood by both the applicant and the
community.
2) Demonstrated evidence that there is input and support from the community for the
proposed project.
3) Evidence demonstrates that community members, organizations, and partners want to
engage in the project activities, and are willing to invest through commitment of time,
money, and/or in-kind goods and services.
4) Accessibility needs of participants and/or audiences are understood and well addressed.
5) Evidence demonstrates that the proposal provides an arts opportunity that would not
otherwise be available for the identified community/audience.
10. Describe the target audience for the proposal. Consider demographic factors such as
ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age and gender.
a. Presenters/creators (artists, actors, performers, etc.)
b. Audience (patrons, students, etc.) - population/community that will live/work near and
experience the art as well as any other groups that will be served by this public art project.
Consider panelists who are not familiar with Elk River - what do you want them to
know about this community? Who lives here, where is it located, etc. The panel will
be looking for evidence that the applicant knows and understands the community
and that the community has had input regarding this process.
Elk River is a rapidly growing exurb situated along the Mississippi River between
St. Cloud and Minneapolis. The city is intersected by two major highways: US-10
and US-169. Home to over 26,000 residents, our community is passionate about
its parks and natural areas which contributed to the city tagline, “Powered by
Nature”. Elk River is proud to have over 40 parks, and three conservation areas
across 1,444 scenic acres. A public art piece that highlights the natural beauty of
our city and the Mississippi River will be strongly supported by our residents as
exhibited by recent community input.
“Where Energy Flows” is set to be permanently displayed at the highest visited
municipal property in Elk River. Furniture and Things Community Event Center
is home to a wide array of community gathering events that brings in over
700,000 annual visits. There are two ice arenas that are used for open skating as
well as hockey games and tournaments that can seat a combined 2,200 patrons.
This facility is now home to the Minnesota Squatch, a hockey team in the United
States Premier Hockey League. There is a large turf field house with a walking
track doubles as an expo space that has hosted many events, such as makers
markets, dog shows, and farmers markets, to name a few. The community event
center also has the Senior Activity Center which has almost 500 active members.
Additionally, there are multiple rentable rooms used for private events, and
birthday parties.
By having a plethora of usable spaces, Furniture and Things Community Event
Center has something for everyone in the community regardless of age or
interests. This is why Elk River is pleased to propose a public art project at this
highly used facility where a great number of individuals, residents and visitors,
have the ability to appreciate the piece.
11. What makes you believe the proposal will be welcomed or celebrated by the
community? Provide examples such as surveys, community meetings, audience feedback,
local and regional studies, etc.
The Elk River community has a history of backing public art in many forms. In
1989, the Elk River Arts Alliance was founded as a non-profit organization that
worked with local businesses, city and county government, area schools, arts
organizations, and artists to provide quality arts experiences and programming
for the residents of the area until the early 2010’s. While the alliance is no longer
active, the group left a lasting mark on arts appreciation in the community.
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department facilitated a community survey in
October of 2019 to assist completion of their Park Plan. One of the items
identified in the survey was that public art was a priority. Throughout the
summer, Elk River hosts the Riverfront Concert Series featuring local and
regional bands. These events pack Rivers Edge Commons on the banks of the
Mississippi River with residents and visitors of all ages supporting this musical
side of art.
Additionally, numerous public art projects have been commissioned within the
city. Most recently was Slipstream, a large-scale abstract sculpture positioned
prominently at the gateway to downtown Elk River. Prior to that, Whimsical
Windmill, a tall, colorful windmill full of moving parts, was installed within our
municipal campus near the entrance to the public library.
The community support received in response to the multitude of past art pieces
and programming leads us to believe that “Where Energy Flows” will be similarly
celebrated.
12. List ways in which the community has demonstrated support for the public art
project. Examples include financial contributions, volunteer time, donation of
services/supplies/space, survey responses, etc.
Consider providing more context regarding the history of public art to help
strengthen community support.
In this section, the narrative references a public art RFP but there is no
discussion earlier in the narrative of what this process entailed. Consider providing
the panelists with the criteria and process of that RFP process to help them
better understand artist selection, etc.
The Elk River community has a history of backing public art in many forms.
The Elk River Economic Development Authority, which is comprised of seven
loyal residents, has determined that supporting and maintaining public art be one
of their annual objectives. They have ensured that funds be dedicated to public
art initiatives and maintenance during their annual budgeting process. At their
March meeting, they approved $10,000 to be contributed to Carey Dean’s
“Where Energy Flows”.
The Multipurpose Facility Commission, who oversees the operations of
Furniture and Things Community Event Center, were approached in early 2024
regarding their site to serve as a preferred location for the upcoming public art
RFP. They approved the pursuit of a public art installation within their facility,
and their collaboration has continued as this process progresses. Moreover, in
2021 this commission completed an environmental and branding graphics
guidelines document which emphasized the desire for unique and design
elements throughout the event center.
Local businesses and organizations have provided financial support for a plethora
of city events and initiatives. Specifically, our latest public art project, Slipstream,
received donations from: The Bank of Elk River, First Bank Elk River, Elk River
Area Chamber of Commerce, Kevin Gleitz – State Farm Insurance, Forterra, and
Granite Shores Luxury Apartments. The EDA is confident in determining
passionate local sponsors for this proposed project.
Most importantly, Elk River has a dedicated group of residents and business
owners who have made the commitment to serve on the Beautification and
Public Art Committee to further support keeping Elk River beautiful and filled
with public art. Their desire for public art led to our public art RFP that received
interest from six artists, and three submitted proposals. The submissions were
scored on a 100-point rubric with the following criteria:
Public Art Message: How the artist’s project fits within the theme of
history, community, and/or natural resources in Elk River.
Aesthetics: How the artist’s project fits within the following parameters:
motion, texture, color, shape.
Memorable and Impactful
Related Understanding: Can the work be built and installed as proposed?
Relationship of the artwork to the site and the host community,
especially how it serves to activate or enhance economic development.
Schedule: How well the proposed schedule from project installation to
final completion works for the city and the EDA. Evidence of the artist’s
ability to work collaboratively and successfully complete the project on
time and on budget.
Cost: What are the city and the EDA’s costs in the short and long term?
“Where Energy Flows” scored the highest and was confidently selected to move
forward and be recommended to the EDA for funding.
13. Describe how accessibility needs are being addressed in this proposal. How will you
accommodate requests for access to the proposed public art project?
“Where Energy Flows” is being proposed at a highly accessible municipal facility.
The proposed location for this piece is on the ground floor of Furniture and
Things Community Event Center. The facility features many handicap accessible
parking stalls, as well as motion sensor sliding entry doors. FT Center is always
fully staffed, and team members will gladly assist patrons to view the artwork.
ABILITY- 10 of 30 points
Evaluators use the following criteria when reviewing this section of the application:
1) Project team and/or partners is well assembled, qualified, with demonstrated experience
and appropriate and articulated responsibilities. If volunteers will play a significant role, that
has been described.
2) An effective promotion and marketing plan is in place which supports the project's
participation goals and fosters broad public awareness and/or engagement.
3) The public art project has a complete and realistic timeline.
4) The budget revenue streams are realistic, attainable and the cash match is likely to be met;
expenses are reasonable and appropriate while honoring the work of artists
5) Thorough research for the proposed public art site is complete and approval has been
obtained for the installation/performance of work.
6) Proposal outcomes describe measurable and achievable change in knowledge, attitude,
skill, behavior, or condition among the people the project is designed to benefit.
7) The evaluation plan includes appropriate methods to measure and document project
completion, effectiveness, and progress toward stated outcome(s) and identifies how results
will be used (adjustments to the project, informing future programming, sharing with
stakeholders or peers, applicant learning and development, etc.).
14. Project Director Person designated by the applicant organization to oversee the
implementation of the proposed public art project. • Director Name • Director Phone •
Director Email • Director Bio
Joshua Mollan
Economic Development Specialist
763-635-1041
jmollan@elkrivermn.gov
Josh Mollan is the Economic Development Specialist for the City of Elk River. He
has been with the city for two years after completing his Masters in Public
Administration from Hamline University. Josh is currently the staff liaison to the
Beautification and Public Art Committee and along with other economic
development department staff, reinvigorated the city's public art initiative after
their 2021 project, Slipstream. Josh is a confident drawer and painter and
passionate about securing additional public art for the residents and visitors of
Elk River.
15. Lead Artist Primary person involved in the design, planning and creation of the proposed
public art. • Artist Name • Artist Address • Artist Phone • Artist Email • Artist Resume/Bio
Upload as a .PDF [upload box] • Artist Work Samples - Combine multiple samples into
ONE .PDF document. [upload box]
Carey Dean
Minneapolis, MN
612-889-6228
carey2art@gmail.com
careydean.com
16. List other key personnel and/or artists involved in the public art project and their
roles. Include a short bio explaining their artistic skills and experience. (i.e. contractors,
assistants, etc.)
Carey Dean will be the sole artist on “Where Energy Flows”.
17. Timeline – Describe the timeline for all project activities. Include planning, performances,
activities, assessment, unveiling, etc. All activities MUST be completed within one year of the
project start date.
The Beautification and Public Art Committee has worked through fall and winter
to produce and publish an RFP and review proposals. The committee made the
final recommendation to the EDA in April. The EDA approved their financial
contribution in April as well. The final artwork and placement are to be
approved at the April meeting of the Multipurpose Facility Commission.
Members of the community and the Beautification and Public Art Committee will
show Carey Dean around the natural areas suggested for inspiration in late
spring. Carey will begin fabrication in fall with installation and the reveal to be
scheduled in late spring 2025.
18. Describe any research completed regarding the safety and structural requirements of
the Public Art. Examples include environmental impacts, engineering requirements, safety
concerns, lighting, etc.
The city’s Building and Safety Division will ensure that the specific location within
Furniture and Things Community Event Center can support the weight and
mounting technique of “Where Energy Flows”. Additionally, the work is
anticipated to be professionally installed by Museum Services Inc. which will
feature a cleat mounting system with multiple anchor points and security
hardware.
19. Provide documentation of site approval. A contract or agreement with the owner
(governmental unit/private property owner) granting permission and indicating the duration
of the project. • Site Approval [upload box]
As the City of Elk River and its subsidiaries are the applicant as well as the site
owner, no further agreement is needed. Internal communication along with
approval of the pursuit of public art installation by the Multipurpose Facility
Commission should satisfy this requirement.
20. What is the estimated lifespan of the work? List or estimate the duration of time before
“permanent” works will require major maintenance or repairs. For temporary public art 1
year or less, describe how the art will be documented and shared.
“Where Energy Flows” is a permanent piece of work that would only require
wiping off dust and fingerprints every few years with a soft cloth and glass
cleaner.
21. Publicity and/or Marketing Efforts - Explain how this public art project will be
promoted/documented. (i.e. ads, flyers, news releases, videos, YouTube, etc.)
The city multimedia team is excited to partner with the artist as well as the
Beautification and Public Art Committee to produce a high-quality video that will
highlight the creation process and the committee and community backing of the
project. The local newspaper, the Star News, has already shown interest in
covering the artist and project. City social media accounts will produce several
posts garnering online attention. In addition, the city will market and hold a
reveal with the artist and elected officials to publicly welcome the project to
Furniture and Things Community Event Center.
22. Measurable Outcomes - Once the public art project is complete, what are the expected
specific measurable outcomes? Explain what success will look like, what will change, what
learning may take place, etc.
Outcomes are intended to identify a change in knowledge, attitude, behavior, etc.
What changes do you anticipate from this public art project? The narrative outlines
one change (an increase in engagement and conversation) but the rest of this
section doesn't necessarily articulate a change. What change do you anticipate by a
positive article or adding the Google Maps pins, for example.
Provided alongside the art we will have a QR code leading to a page dedicated to
public art with additional details and content on “Where Energy Flows” among
our other pieces. Also, a hashtag with the piece name will be present for social
media tagging.
We anticipate working with the Elk River Star News to ensure a positive article
is published on the new piece of art in the community.
Additionally, by adding Google Map pins for this and other public art, we can
view and respond to public reviews, as well as increase visibility of the pieces.
These steps should lead to increased engagement and conversation regarding
public art in the community in general, and “Where Energy Flows” specifically.
Moreover, we expect our residents and visitors who interact with this piece, to
hold a greater appreciation of the beautiful natural areas around the city.
23. Measurable Outcomes Summary – Briefly describe outcomes for the proposal. Proposals
funded by Minnesota’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund are required to provide a summary to
be posted on the Legacy.mn.gov website.
This summary section is intended to be just a summarization of the larger outcome
narrative section above. It is a required reporting component for any projects
funded by Legacy Amendment and this information goes to the Legacy website,
which is public information.
We anticipate that viewers of “Where Energy Flows” will have increased
engagement and conversation regarding public art as well as a heightened
appreciation for the beauty of the natural areas across the City of Elk River.
24. CMAB Program Outcomes – Select all that are relevant to the proposed project:
X 1. Regional residents experience a change in knowledge, attitude, behavior or
condition.
X 2. Accessible public art contributes to community identity, culture or history.
X 3. Regional artists connect to new audiences and/or build relationships that
provide artistic growth.
25. Evaluation Methods - Describe the evaluation methods that will be used to measure the
proposed outcomes.
Evaluation methods should align with, and measure proposed outcomes. Consider
your specific outcomes and what types of evaluation best match each outcome. If
one survey will meet all the outcomes, consider giving the panel greater context
regarding the sorts of questions you'll specifically be looking to measure. Panelists
often pay close attention to outcomes and evaluation and the more concrete details
the narrative provides, the stronger the section.
It would be intended to conduct a running survey on the website that the QR
code would lead to as well as shared from time to time on the Elk River
Economic Development Facebook page. Within the survey we would like to
determine the purpose of their visit to the facility, if they are aware of other
public art within the community, and if their appreciation of the natural areas in
the city has changed, among other questions as determined by the Beautification
and Public Art Committee. The results of the survey would be brought back to
the committee and would give them a better understanding of the impact of
“Where Energy Flows”, and other local public art. Additionally, the feedback
received by the viewers would guide the committee as we continue the mission
of providing additional public art for the community. Moreover, we can look
back on uses of the hashtag to see how much this piece is shared and mentioned.
26. Evaluation Plan/Methods Summary – Briefly describe evaluation plans to measure
outcomes. Proposals funded by Minnesota’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund are required to
provide a summary to be posted on the Legacy.mn.gov website.
A survey is intended to determine reason of visit, public art awareness, and
natural area appreciation, among others. The Beautification and Public Art
Committee will discuss the feedback to gain a deeper understanding of the
impact of the piece and guide future public art projects.
27. Reflection and Action - Describe how your organization will utilize the information
obtained from evaluation.
The valuable information gathered in the survey will guide the committee and
the EDA in their future procurement of public art. In addition, relevant
information will be shared with Carey Dean to foster her professional growth as
a female mid-career artist from Minnesota.
PROPOSAL BUDGET
28. Download the Excel Budget Template, complete and save a copy in .PDF format to upload
to the application. Save the completed excel budget template. If awarded, the template
includes a second worksheet that will be required to complete the final report.
29. Amount Requested – Cannot exceed 75% of Eligible Expenses. Round up to the nearest
dollar.
$8,000
30. In-Kind Contributions – Enter the total amount for In-Kind Contributions that were
included as REVENUE in the Budget form. Enter "0" if not applicable.
0
31. Total Proposal Expense – All costs associated with this proposal. Must match Total Expense
in budget form. Round to the nearest dollar.
$20,000