ArtPrize Blog
August 25th, 2010
The line around the Old Federal Building to see Ran Ortner’s Open Water No. 24 was an iconic image of ArtPrize 2009. Located at 155 N Division Ave in the center of downtown Grand Rapids, it is not an official ArtPrize venue this year. However, for 2010 the organizers of ArtPrize will turn Old Federal into a physical space to be the hub of the ArtPrize conversation. A space we’ve nicknamed–what else? The Hub.
In 2009, we saw so much conversation whirling around ArtPrize–both on the street and online–but no central place where the visiting public could join in.
“This year we’re trying out a central resource center, called The Hub, where voters get support and information,” says Rick DeVos, ArtPrize founder. “It will be home to our Speaker Series–where ArtPrize and the international art world collide–and it’s a practical start and end point for the visiting public.”
The Hub will provide a lounge decked out with Herman Miller furniture where the visiting public can relax and talk. It will have free access to computers for voting and trained technical support. There’s an artist lounge, volunteer offices, voter registration and the only store carrying the full line of ArtPrize merchandise.
What will be at The Hub?
Computers for voting
Mapping and navigational assistance
Store with exclusive product
Voter registration
Public lounge
Artist lounge
Volunteer headquarters
The Speaker Series
Shuttle stop
Guest speakers
Hasan Bakhshi – Economist, Director of Creative Industries at NESTA
Brett Colley – Associate Professor at Grand Valley State University
David Greenwood – Professor of Sculpture & Functional Art at Kendall College of Art & Design
Xenia Kalpaktsoglou- Curator & Co-director of the Athens Biennale
Adam Lerner Ph. D. – Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
Jeff Speck – Urban planner, architectural designer, author of Suburban Nation
Paul Ha – Director of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
Patricia Phillips – Dean of Graduate Studies at the Rhode Island School of Design
Raphaela Platow – Director & Chief Curator, Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati
Julie Rodrigues Widholm – Associate Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago
Deborah Rockman – Chair of Drawing and Printmaking at Kendall College of Art and Design
Norwood Viviano – Assistant Professor at Grand Valley State University
August 23rd, 2010
We are pleased to announce that ArtPrize is hosting INDEPENDENT ARTIST, a day-long professional development workshop for artists across disciplines. This event is presented by ArtServe Michigan and the New York Foundation for the Arts.
The workshop is open to all artists, not just ArtPrize participants. You can register now on ArtServe.org. UPDATE! This workshop is full. You can still sign up for the waiting list.
The organizers describe the event this way:
This workshop expands the skill set and knowledge of professional artists with a desire to increase income and professional acumen while also increasing exposure. The one-day course delivers practical information through short lectures, hands-on activities and individual coaching to develop new skills and to impact the entire group’s awareness and professional skills. The workshop is not purely about delivery of information. It is highly participatory and involves coaching conversations that empower you to grow in your creative work and in your career.
The workshop covers:
- Individual Assessment
- Creating and living from your vision
- Speaking and writing about your work
- Crafting effective goals and objectives
- Funding Landscape for Creative Workers
- Fundraising strategy for your projects
- The Grant Process: elements of the proposal and budget writing
- Social Media
- Resourcing Your Practice
WHERE: Old Federal Building, 2nd floor, 155 N. Division, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
WHEN: Wednesday, October 6, 10 AM to 5 PM (there will be a “working lunch”)
COST: $15, optional lunch available for $10
WHO: All artists across disciplines, not limited to ArtPrize participants. This workshop is full. You can still sign up for the waiting list.
Please direct any registration questions to cezanne@artservemichigan.org.
August 19th, 2010
Beginning Monday, August 23, official ArtPrize 2010 merchandise will go on sale! We’ve got all kinds of great stuff: clothing, bags, even baby onesies and doggie t-shirts. This year’s product line features designs tailor made for each of the five ArtPrize neighborhoods. Each retail location will have a slightly different selection, so be sure to shop around.
Here’s a tease of what’s for sale (this is not a complete catalog of products, there’s a lot more than will fit on this page). All ArtPrize 2010 apparel is designed by Neil Hubert and printed on American Apparel®.
Read More »
August 4th, 2010
The official poster for ArtPrize® 2010 is for sale from now until the end of ArtPrize 2010 in October. Pick up the poster for $12 at one of the following Exhibition Centers for ArtPrize 2010 or supporting retail outlets (see map below)
The poster is reminiscent of many artists who deconstructed the printing process by deliberately separating the four colors. The ArtPrize logo is printed in four different colors, overlaid on each other, with the additional colors that result created naturally from the layering.
EXHIBITION CENTERS
- Cathedral Square
- Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
- Grand Rapids Art Museum
- Grand Rapids Public Museum
- Grand Valley State University – Pew Campus
- Urban Institute for Contemporary Art
- Women’s City Club
RETAIL OUTLETS
- Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
- Frames Unlimited – 28th Street
- Frames Unlimited – Plainfield
- Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
- Grand Rapids Public Library – Main Library
- JW Marriott
- LaFontsee Galleries
- Schuler Books – 28th Street
- Schuler Books – Alpine
- Schuler Books – Downtown
- Spirit Dreams
View ArtPrize Poster 2010 in a larger map
August 2nd, 2010
We’ve recently updated our lists of Grand Rapids businesses that could be useful to ArtPrize artists. These lists will be updated as we learn of more businesses eager to help artists, so be sure to check back.
The Artist Resources page currently contains information on businesses in following categories:
- Art Supplies and Framing
- Printing
- Fabrication and Construction
- Insurance
- Audiovisual
The Artist Discounts page contains a select list of businesses from the Resources page that are offering special discounts for ArtPrize artists, including hotels.
You can help!
Are you a West Michigan business that would like to work with ArtPrize artists? Are you able to offer discounted services?
If you’re an artist, is there a type of business you need to connect with in Grand Rapids to make your entry possible? Let us know. We’ll do a little research and add what we find to the Resources page.
Please e-mail artists@artprize.org.
July 6th, 2010
After the final audit of artists and venues that secured each other for ArtPrize 2010, the results are…
Artists from 21 different countries will exhibit, including the United States. 44 different states in the U.S. will be represented.
Note: If you were watching reports last week, you may have noticed a sightly lower number of countries and slightly higher number of states. Those numbers were pulled from a report generated a day prior to Connections closing, with hundreds of artists still left to secure venues. Artists and venues also canceled connections they decided–for whatever reason–were made prematurely. Hence, the shift in numbers has the ability go up or down.
July 1st, 2010
ArtPrize is still doing a final audit of secured artists and venues, so the official numbers will not be available until perhaps early next week. However, if you look at the artist list and the venue list now that the connections period has closed, you will see…
- 1,713 artists secured a venues (up from 1,262 in 2009)
- 192 venues secured artists (up from 159 in 2009)
With that said, over the increased quantity of artists and venues, we at ArtPrize are far more encouraged at signs that the overall quality of the event will go up a notch this year. There are more international artists coming and from more states in the US, and many more emerging artists who are rising through the ranks of the art world.
With venues, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art put on fantastic exhibitions at their facility and the Old Federal Building in 2009. They’re back this year, and joined by other regional institutions–like the Grand Rapids Art Museum, The Public Museum, Grand Valley State University, Meijer Gardens and others–who’ve all stepped up the scale of their exhibitions this year.
Maybe most encouraging is to see places like Stepping Stones Montessori School, which is located in the farthest northeast corner of the district, use the platform of ArtPrize the way we’ve designed it to be used. They’re bringing in artists with work that enhances the experiential learning of their students. Whether or not one of those artists goes home with an award, their show will leave an imprint of the lives of the students and artists involved. Which is just the type of experience we hoped ArtPrize would become an excuse to create.
June 30th, 2010
In just over 24 hours, the artist/venue matching period for ArtPrize 2010 will be complete. There are already more artists with venues than last year, and the number keeps growing! Like last year, these final hours are a bit of a scramble. Here are a few things you need to know.
Finalize connections!
Artists and venues, you must finalize your connections on artprize.org before 5:00 PM EDT tomorrow, July 1. After that, it’s too late, and connections cannot be made. Do not wait until the last minute!
Once the hosting agreement is complete, artist and venue return to artprize.org to make it official. Both artist and venue must click the SECURE button before the artist is secured. Note: the SECURE button is not on the artist or venue profiles, it’s on your Manage Connections page. To find your Manage Connections page, log in and click the “Connections” link (it’s over to the right).
What about artists without venues?
While we won’t know for sure until tomorrow, there’s a good chance that not all artists will secure a venue. Artists who do not secure a venue will not compete in ArtPrize 2010. Also, venues that do not secure at least one artist will not be a venue during the event.
When will we know the final number of artists and venues?
After matching ends at 5:00 PM EDT tomorrow, we’ll perform an audit. We’ll know the final numbers early next week. You’ll be able to see a complete list of artists here, and a complete list of venues here. Each venue profile contains a list of the artists showing there.
June 21st, 2010
Young Kim's "salt & earth" being installed for ArtPrize Sept 21, 2009. Photo by JohnE777 on flickr.
Artists and venues have until July 1 to make a connection, sign a Hosting Agreement and secure each other on the website. If an artist does not secure a venue, the artist is not in the event. If a venue does not secure any artists, the venue is not in the event.
The actual number of venues and artists participating in ArtPrize® 2010 will not be known until Connections close July 1 and ArtPrize conducts a final audit.
That said, with registration closing June 17, people are curious about how many artists registered–meaning how many artists have applied to be in the competition and are seeking a venue.
For ArtPrize 2010
226 venues registered
2,249 artists registered (audit still pending)
Again, the numbers above do not reflect how many artists/venues will participate at the 2010 event from September 22 – October 10. Only the number of artists/venues who applied. An artist must secure space within a venue and a venue must secure an artist to participate in the event.
June 17th, 2010
***TODAY AT 5:00PM EDT ARTIST REGISTRATION CLOSES FOR ARTPRIZE 2010***
Important information on collaborators is below.
Painting of squid by Meg Perec from ArtPrize 2009. Photo by JohnE777 on flickr.com
To be registered you must:
- Complete a personal profile
- Complete an entry proposal
- Pay the $50 registration fee (nonrefundable)
Register now for ArtPrize 2010.
A receipt will be emailed to you after you pay the $50 fee. Please, keep this receipt for your records.
After registration closes, artists have until July 1 to secure a venue.
Artists must secure a venue to participate in the ArtPrize event. Learn more about securing a venue.
Will I appear on the list of artists when I register?
When you register, you will appear on a list of artists that only venues can see. Once you secure a venue, you are officially in the 2010 event and will appear on this list.
Collaborators
All collaborators must be registered by June 17. Each collaborator must be added under the entry, and a $25 fee must be paid for each one added.
In the case of a winning entry, ArtPrize only recognizes the artist who submitted the entry and registered collaborators under that entry as stakeholders in prizes and copyright.
June 15th, 2010
5:00PM EDT THIS THURSDAY, JUNE 17, ARTIST REGISTRATION CLOSES
What do I have to do to register?
- Complete a personal profile
- Complete an entry proposal
- Pay the $50 registration fee (nonrefundable)
Register now for ArtPrize 2010.
Does registering guarantee me a spot in ArtPrize 2010?
No. Becoming a participant in ArtPrize is a two-step process.
- Register, so venues can view your profile
- Secure a venue through artprize.org
The deadline to secure a venue is July 1.
Will I appear on the list of artists when I register?
When you register, you will appear on a list of artists that only venues can see. Once you secure a venue, you are officially in the 2010 event and will appear on this list.
June 11th, 2010
This Thursday, June 17, at 5:00PM EDT, artist registration for ArtPrize 2010 will close.
To be registered as an artist, you must
- Complete a personal profile
- Complete an entry proposal
- Pay the $50 registration fee
Register now for ArtPrize 2010.
Registering for ArtPrize does not guarantee an artist a venue at the event. Each artist must secure a venue, and artists are securing venues from now until July 1.
Learn more about securing a venues or view artists that have currently secured venues for 2010.
What about collaborators?
No collaborators can be registered after June 17. Each collaborator must be added under the entry, and a $25 fee must be paid for each one added.
In the case of a winning entry, ArtPrize will only recognize the artist who submitted the entry and registered collaborators under that entry as stakeholders in prizes and copyright.
June 1st, 2010
***Connections are open, artists must secure a venue on artprize.org by July 1 to compete in ArtPrize 2010***
Artists and venues have now entered the time we refer to as “matching” or “connections,” when they formally commit to each other for the 2010 event. It’s when artprize.org, essentially, becomes a dating website.
So, how does it work?
WE LIKE SURPRISES
The process of connections is what makes ArtPrize fundamentally different from any other event. We like surprises, and that’s what we get when the event is handed over to artists and venues to organize themselves. ArtPrize, the organization, has no curator or jury to pick artists for the event.
Each venue independently chooses which artists to show from the website. Some venues will be run by highly qualified curators in the art world, others by amateur enthusiasts. The huge variety in venues–and decisions made by venues–is what makes ArtPrize so radically open and unpredictable.
Venues have been browsing artists on artrpize.org since April 19 (when artist registration opened). Many artists have contacted venues to informally discuss their options. From today until July 1, they can make their agreement official on artprize.org. As they do, you will see the list of artists slowly grow as the program for ArtPrize 2010 is built real-time. Read More »
May 31st, 2010
Code for the Grand River, Ah-Nab-Awen Park. Photo courtesy of Curt Saunier.
Matching opens tomorrow! Which means artists and venues can formally request to connect to each other online and finalize their agreements. Before that happens, we have one more neighborhood to show off: The Westside.
The Westside Neighborhood not only has the largest geographic expanse, but also has the greatest venue diversity in ArtPrize. Among Westside’s 32 venues there are parks, a university, a Presidential museum, ministries, bridges, high rises, hotels, a mechanical shop and a tattoo parlor. There’s something for everyone on the Westside, and it will be full of surprises.
Download the Westside Venue List
May 30th, 2010
Red Ball at the UICA. Photo courtesy of Alaine Poelstra.
Heartside is ArtPrize’s largest neighborhood this year with 84 venues. Among this year’s venues many are returning, like the UICA and Cathedral Square, and some are new.
During ArtPrize 2009, Heartside was a treasure trove of hidden gems, most notorious of all, Young Kim’s installation. While voters scoured the many venues it was not uncommon to bump into one of the Scarlet Empress’s minions or see a giant Red Ball bulging from the side of a building.
Before you consider the Heartside venues, we suggest you take a look at how “matching” works here.
Please note, artists, you do not have to wait until June 1 to reach an informal agreement with a venue, but that agreement can only be finalized on artprize.org after June 1.
Download the Heartside Venue List
May 29th, 2010
“Imagine That”. Photo courtesy of Rachel Kramer.
The Hillside Neighborhood makes up the east ArtPrize boundary and will feature 25 venues, among them: The Medical Mile, Grand Rapids Community College and the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum.
During ArtPrize 2009, Hillside featured one of the most popular entries and second place winner, Tracy Van Duinen’s Imagine That (pictured above). Imagine That, is now a permanent fixture at the Children’s Museum.
Artists, remember, you do not have to wait until June 1 to reach an informal agreement with a venue, but that agreement can only be finalized on artprize.org after June 1. While you’re browsing the Hillside venues, take a look at how “matching” works here.
Download the Hillside Venue List
May 28th, 2010
Photo courtesy of John Eisenschenk.
The Monroe North neighborhood gets the spotlight today. Monroe North, as the name suggests, makes up much of the ArtPrize north boundary, and features some of the finest parks Grand Rapids has to offer with Canal Street Park and Lookout Park numbering in the neighborhood’s 22 venues.
During ArtPrize 2009, visitors that found themselves in the Monroe North neighborhood were rewarded with exquisitely placed art, scenic views of the river, and quirky events.
As you consider the venues in this neighborhood, please review how “matching” works here.
Artists, take note, you do not have to wait until June 1 to reach an informal agreement with a venue, but that agreement can only be finalized on artprize.org after June 1.
Download the Monroe North/Belknap Venue List
May 27th, 2010
Old Federal Building. Photo courtesy of Rich Evenhouse.
ArtPrize 2010 is just around the corner and we’re five days out from opening up the ability for venues and artists to connect on the website and secure each other. It goes without saying that both venues and artists have been eagerly waiting to officially finalize their plans, and we want to help the process along as much as possible. In that spirit, each day leading up to June 1, we will highlight an ArtPrize neighborhood and the venues that fall within its boundaries. Today we’re showing off the Center City Neighborhood.
As a refresher, we suggest you take a look at how “matching” works here.
Please note, artists, you do not have to wait until June 1 to reach an informal agreement with a venue, but that agreement can only be finalized on artprize.org after June 1.
The Center City neighborhood was the hub for a lot of foot traffic in 2009 and is the most central part of downtown. Four of the Top Ten finalists came from this neighborhood. This year it boasts 64 venues, many of them returning and many new, and promises to be a very busy part of town come September.
Artists, say hello to the Center City Neighborhood.
Download the Center City Venue List
May 18th, 2010
***ARTIST REGISTRATION EXTENDED TO JUNE 17, 2010***
Press release follows:
ARTPRIZE EXTENDS 2010 ARTIST REGISTRATION
With More Competition, Venues Ask for More Time to Build Exhibitions
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – May 18, 2010 – While more than 1,000 artists have already begun their registration process to enroll in ArtPrize 2010, several of the more than 220 venues have reported that increased competition for artists has already begun for the 2010 event, and asked ArtPrize organizers to extend the artist registration deadline. ArtPrize officially announced that the artist registration date will be extended from May 27 to the new deadline of June 17, 2010. The matching period between the artist and venue will remain the same as published between June 1 and July 1, 2010.
“There is a huge demand for art this year,” said Bill Holsinger-Robinson, ArtPrize, Executive Director. “We’ve heard that many artists have informal agreements with venues already in place.” ArtPrize has gone from 159 to more than 220 venues. Many of the venues from 2009 have plans to increase the artists they’ll show.
“We showed maybe six or seven artists last year,” says Linda Lafontsee of Lafontsee Galleries, “We plan to fill the gallery with up to 40 artists this year.”
In addition, ArtPrize is seeing a number of curators who have been engaged by venues, such as the Blue Bridge and the Monroe Promenade. These curators bring their own network of artists that they would like more time communicating with.
“There is real competition for art happening, which is great for artists, but stressful for venues,” said Holsinger-Robinson. “The artists and venues want the opportunity to put on an even better show, they need a bit more time to help these new relationships take hold.”
- The new deadline for artist registration is June 17, 2010
- Artists have three weeks left to register
- The matching period will still begin on artprize.org June 1
- The matching period will still end Thursday, July 1
- Between June 17 (end of registration) and July 1 (end of matching) is two weeks for artists and venues to wrap up their agreements and secure each other on artprize.org
May 13th, 2010
A decision was quickly made on the heels of the 2009 event, that ArtPrize would actively pursue sponsors for additional awards that could be juried by internationally recognized jurors. With over 1,260 artists making the 2009 event happen, we wanted to bring more rewards for artists who take the plunge and do the experiment.
ArtPrize 2010 adds four juried awards and may be able to add more closer to the event, depending on sponsor availability.
***Remember, artist registration ends May 27 at 5:00PM EDT***
Steve Samson and Janet Teunis of the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art present Young Kim with the “Curator’s Award” at the Awards Ceremony for ArtPrize 2009. Photo courtesy of ArtPrize/Brian Kelly
2010 JURIED AWARDS
- Best two-dimensional work (2D)
- Best three-dimensional work (3D)
- Best time-based work (Performance/Film/Video)
- An award for use of urban space
Beyond the categories listed above, specific criteria for juried awards will be determined by the jurors themselves. Sponsors for each award will be announced later. A minimum cash prize of $5,000 will go to the artist for each award. Sponsors may choose to increase the cash prize solely at their discretion.
JURORS Read More »
In 2009, we saw so much conversation whirling around ArtPrize–both on the street and online–but no central place where the visiting public could join in.
