When: Saturday, October 19, 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Minnehaha Park Pavilion, next to Sea Salt Cafe

The arts and the parks are natural partners, according to Dan Woychick, the designer and creative strategist who started the Posters for Parks show in 2016. 

“I think on the Venn diagram, you’ll find a pretty big intersection between people who love the parks, and artists, designers and creative people,” he says. “That’s why this event is a win-win all the way around, showcasing the work of local artists while supporting the parks we love.”

The annual show, a joint effort of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation and LoveMplsParks in support of the People for Parks Fund, has become more popular than ever. This spring, a record-setting 171 artists submitted applications to the show’s selection jury for the chance to create an original limited-edition poster to be sold at the October 19 event. 

“It was really eye-opening for me to see the interest in the event, but also the number of artists and the incredible range of artwork people are creating in the Twin Cities,” says Zakaria Aden, a member of the selection committee who also serves on the Minneapolis Parks Foundation’s Board of Directors. “There’s a lot of buzz and excitement around the show, not just for the artists who are chosen to showcase their work, but also as a really fun community gathering.” 

More than 40 artists are now at work creating exclusive new pieces for the pop-up show, held at the Minnehaha Park Pavilion. Proceeds from the sale are split 50-50 between artists and the People for Parks Fund, which provides grants to support community-driven ideas for connecting through the parks. While many long-time supporters of Posters for Parks have already filled their walls with images of the parks, Woychick says it’s always worth coming to the live event. “Like I tell people, posters always make a great gift because one size fits all,” he says. 

For sneak peeks of this year’s poster designers, be sure to follow @mplsparksfoundation and @love.mpls.parks on Instagram and Facebook. Registration for the free Posters for Parks show goes live at the end of this month and will be available here.