ArtPrize Nine arrives in downtown GR

ArtPrize is an independently organized art competition that takes over downtown Grand Rapids. This year’s competition runs for 19 days, from Sept. 20 to Oct. 8. ArtPrize is free and open to the public and now attracts over 500,000 visitors each year. It was awarded the title of the most attended public art event of 2014 and 2015 by The Art Newspaper’s “The Ticket List”. Founded in 2009, ArtPrize was created by Grand Rapids native Rick DeVos.

Artists from around the world flood Grand Rapids with exhibits in a multitude of venues such as bars, public parks, auto body shops, hotels, museums, and even in the Grand River. Some pieces are permanently integrated into the city landscape after the competition ends. This year, 1,346 artists are registered to exhibit their pieces in 175 different venues throughout the city. A few big venues to visit include the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the BOB and the Gerald R. Ford Museum. Calvin even has an ArtPrize venue downtown, The Ladies Literary Club, which will be displaying an exterior exhibition this year.

“ArtPrize gets Grand Rapids on the art scene,” says Paula Manni, Arts Programming Assistant for Calvin, “But the tourism is also great for the local economy.” Both big and small businesses such as restaurants and hotels benefit from the massive influx of people that the competition brings to the area. This year, organizers predict an average of 26,000 visitors per day.

In addition to the economic benefits of ArtPrize, Manni believes ArtPrize’s ability to get the public talking about art is a necessity.

“I think the important thing is that there is conversation,” said Manni. “If we’re going to be a culture that knows how to critically look at and think about work well, we need practice. ArtPrize opens the opportunity for that practice to happen.”

ArtPrize is a unique platform for artists to share their art because there are no limits hindering creativity. Manni describes ArtPrize as being rather “hands-out”: any artist working in any medium can participate and there are no regulations as to where artists can exhibit. Instead, there’s an online forum that is set up by ArtPrize where participating artists and venues that have a space downtown can connect online and make their own arrangements in the months leading up to the competition.

ArtPrize was created as a non-typical citywide art event in which any artist willing to submit work can enter. It is Grand Rapids’ attempt to disrupt traditional, highly curated art contests while getting the public involved.

“Whether you’re an artist with a capital A or an artist who does work on the side,” said Manni,  “[ArtPrize] opens up the door for anyone to exhibit. I think that’s the beauty of ArtPrize.”

During its first year, the world’s largest art prize of $250,000 was awarded solely based on public votes. Since 2010, a panel of recognized art world experts was added to award an additional grand prize of $200,000; however, the popular vote has continued to be the signature of ArtPrize. Besides the two grand prizes, art submissions are judged in four broad categories: two-dimensional, three-dimensional, installation, and time-based art. This year, a total of $500,000 in prizes will be awarded to winning artists, $200,000 by popular vote and $200,000 by jury vote. The remainder of the prize money goes to the winners of individual categories.

“It’s fun to take some friends to see lots of different art from people around the world and experience downtown in a way that you normally don’t,” said Junior Jessie Bouma. “ArtPrize brings people together and makes Grand Rapids a popular place for people to visit.”

Head downtown to check out some art. You can vote online for your favorite piece or sign up to volunteer at ArtPrize.org