Working with Artists for Clean Water

The mission of Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of the District. Integrating art and artists into the projects and programs of CRWD helps us achieve this mission by creating connections between water resource managers, engineers, community partners and our residents, resulting in more water projects and actions.
An interdisciplinary and socially engaged Art approach can impact how we think about problems and act out solutions. We explored how creative processes themselves can be infused into different aspects of the District’s work to engage with our communities in new and creative ways.

The Field Guide for Working with Artists outlines recommendations and existing models of working with artists to facilitate integrating art and artists into the work of CRWD. The guide covers a board range of art approaches that include a residency model, short term engagement, internships, commissions, and inclusion of artist on project teams. It is intended as a flexible, living document rather than a static list of prescriptive recommendations.

The Watershed Artist in Residence (AiR) program is predicated on long term engagement with CRWD that reflects a foundational understanding of the mission, goals, and values of CRWD. The Field Guide outlines the role, expectations, and onboarding process of the District’s AiR program. Learn more about the current Watershed Artist in Residence.

This work began with a spark ignited by former CRWD Board Manager and Saint Paul Artist Seitu Jones, who encouraged us to explore the many ways art and artists can enhance our work – making it more beautiful and impactful, and helping us engage more of our residents, particularly those we have not yet met.

The spark led to the Watershed AiR program, launched as a partnership in 2010 between CRWD, Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD) and Public Art Saint Paul (PASP). Due to previous work on water-related public art projects, Professor Christine Baeumler (University of Minnesota) was contracted by PASP as the AiR for both CRWD and RWMWD in 2010.  PASP, CRWD and RWMD all contributed financially to the AiR residency. This partnership between all three organizations continued from 2010-2012. Baeumler used funds from a Bush Leadership Fellowship to support the AiR from 2013-2014 and then contracted directly with CRWD from 2015-2020.

The first CRWD capital project to incorporate art occurred along the Central Corridor, now known as the Green Line. In 2012, CRWD constructed boulevard stormwater planters and rain gardens at nine locations adjacent to University Avenue in Saint Paul. Working with CRWD staff, Barr Engineering, and artist Lisa Elias, the stormwater planters incorporated decorative railings evoking water, Kasota stone benches and interpretative signage designed by Jim Roe. This was an early shift to transform an infrastructure feature into an aesthetic and informational community space.