If you have interest in contemporary art, Grand Rapids Art Prize is a must-see event.
1. Art Prize is Back
Beginning September 16, 2021, the world’s largest public art competition is coming back to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Artists take over the city, displaying art on the street, in businesses, and other venues throughout Grand Rapids. As a visitor, you’ll get to see and vote on art to award cash prizes for the winning artists.
2. Art Prize is International
Over 1,000 artists come to compete from all over the world to display paintings, sculptures, and installation pieces. If you want to see a wide variety of contemporary artwork from all over the globe, you need to visit. To see a retrospective of this ten year old art festival click here.
3. It Takes Place in Beer City
Art Prize can be a wonderful reason to visit Grand Rapids, a fantastic city with museums, restaurants, music, and beer. You can plan your own route through the art that is placed throughout the city, or go with a group. The Art Prize “district” makes up about three square miles of downtown Grand Rapids, in the heart of the city. Along the beautiful Grand River, and includes the Public Museum. In recent years, Grand Rapids has earned the nickname “Beer City” in many national publications.
4. Art Prize is Free
In addition to the massive amount of art that is available to view for free throughout the city, there are also numerous events that are hosted with art prize. These events include community events, artist meet and greets, and physical activities, such as 5ks.
5. A New App Helps You Navigate it All.
- Visitors can award prizes and interact directly with artists through the ArtPrize app, opening up the possibility that more artists than ever will take home a portion of the $250,000 in cash prizes.
- A new platform will allow artists to sell or auction their works directly to the public.
6. You can visit a world class Sculpture Garden
Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park is a world-class art venue. While it is great art destination in its own right, it is one of the many venues for Art Prize exhibits. When you go, you can see works of Auguste Rodin, Richard Serra, Louise Nevelson, Henry Moore, Edgar Degas, George Segal, Joan Miro, Alexander Calder, Marshall Fredericks, Anish Kapoor, Keith Haring, Dale Chihuly and many more.
7. How to Plan A Visit
Art Prize ends October 3. If you are interested in planning a trip to see Art Prize, you can see all of the events that are coming up: https://www.artprize.org/.
You can subscribe to the Art Prize Newsletter here.
Grand Rapids is an easy three hour drive from Chicago or Detroit.
