Creative Economy Collaborative hopes to build on recent community art project

The Creative Economy Collaborative (CEC), arts advisory council to the City of Grand Marais, applied for and received the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC) Rural and Community Art Project Grant to fund the Detour Signage Project. The project included lead artist and former St. Paul City Artist, Amanda Lovelee, collecting short interviews with Cook County residents regarding life detours. Times when they experienced a detour, roundabout, or slowdown in their life. These narratives were then culled through and short phrases from each were selected to be printed on street signage that were subsequently installed in detour routes. The CEC grant sub-committee partnered with the City who is the official grant submitter and administrator of the funds, and the County, who installed the signage. Signs are located on County Road 7, 8th Avenue, 5th Avenue, Broadway, and Wisconsin Street, which are all county maintained roads.

The goal of the project, according to artist Amanda Lovelee, is to “shift what could be a frustrating moment around the Highway 61 construction project in downtown Grand Marais into an opportunity to explore stories about moments of detour that have shaped us or brought unexpected gifts to their lives. After a long year of detours due to COVID-19, this project aims to bring joy and connection to the Grand Marais community and visitors.”

The ARAC grant funds cover all costs, including direct and indirect expenses to the lead artist, city, and county.

The CEC, in its fledgling stage, has developed a working format for public art guiding principles that includes language from Forecast Public Art, a leader in the public art realm: Communities with vibrant and responsive arts, culture and creative placemaking programs are better equipped to address challenging issues of health, safety, prosperity and equality. Art embedded in planning and development contributes to the wellbeing of citizens, stabilizes neighborhoods, improves cultural and economic health and contributes to pride in place. With this in mind, the CEC looks to continue and build on the open, cross-sector communication and partnerships that occur between city and county government officials, for-and-not-for-profit businesses, and the local artist community, in order to identify what roles the arts might play in addressing community issues, drawing out the culture of Grand Marais, and allowing for multiple narratives and interpretations to support healthy dialogue.