Individual Artist Project Grant

My community is fellow users of the Mesabi Trail, who number 40,000 annually. Locals travel to work, exercise, walk dogs, and relax on the trail. Trail users from outside the region don't often seek out additional cultural attractions like museums or concerts. As an Iron Range resident and frequent trail user myself, I'm excited to provide an experience that invites participants to reflect on their relationship to the place they are visiting or living. In a time when residents and tourists are turning to outdoor, socially-distanced recreation and art opportunities are limited, this work provides a chance for participants to experience art in a safe way that feels connected to the local community. This project will benefit the local community by strengthening bonds across differences. My goal is to increase appreciation for the culture and history of the Iron Range, especially as it relates to marginalized populations in the area. For example, I'll be working with a local Ojibwe consultant to ensure that indigenous historical and cultural contributions to the region, often neglected, are authentically incorporated. Participants may hear stories from perspectives that differ from theirs, feel a connection to a place because of an artistic experience there, or connect with friends and family over activities. Visitors will benefit from a deeper understanding of the Range. This may encourage these important economic contributors to visit the Range again. My goal is to increase participants' appreciation of the history and culture of the Iron Range and improve their connection to local people and places. The tour is designed to provoke thought about the people of the Range, with a focus on the experiences of marginalized residents. The stories and activities will ask participants to both reflect and to take action, a technique which is designed to increase their feeling of personal connection. This is likely to manifest differently in visitors to the region and in local residents. For visitors, ideally this experience will inspire them to explore more local attractions, stay in the area longer, or plan future trips to the area. For local participants, it will strengthen their connection to their communities by enriching their knowledge of the area and prompting reflection on their relationship to place. Measurable outcomes will include the reported feelings, attitudes, and behavior of people who participate in the experience. I have 20 years of experience directing and producing theater, much of it in non-traditional locations. Since 2012 I've been creating interactive, site-specific work that merges technology and narrative; this has given me expertise in welcoming participants into unfamiliar experiences and helping them quickly feel at home. I have the support of the Mesabi Trail administrators. I will involve local groups in project development and outreach. I've already developed an initial prototype using a robust free software that's tried and true. Audiences access an online interface similar to an app but without a required download. The interface can also send and receive texts and calls to participants through an automated system. When participants enter the trail, they scan a QR code from an information kiosk to access the interface, which provides a map of stops along the trail. Extensive play testing will ensure the audience experience is logistically smooth and artistically meaningful.I will track the number of users who start the tour and how much of it they complete. I estimate 50% of these users will represent a group of two or more participants. I hope to have 200 participants complete at least one stop on the tour. After the experience, participants will be invited via text message to take a short survey. I have in-kind assistance from an evaluation professional to develop a survey instrument and strategy for collecting assessment data. A successful outcome would be if 75% of respondents report that the experienc