ArtPrize Blog

ArtPrize Voter Registration Sites

For those of you interested in how ArtPrize came to decide on voter registration sites, it was driven by three motivating factors:

1. Continue to support local arts institutions
2. Have a variety of locations throughout the city
3. Have enough people to staff registration sites

The third problem was the most difficult to navigate. A registrar will be a volunteer. Volunteers usually donate their time in 2-3 hour blocks. So, a quick look at the math:

• 1 day for 1 site with 3 stations = 9 volunteers
• 1 day for 14 sites with 3 stations = 126 volunteers
• 15 days for 14 sites with 3 stations = 1,890 volunteers

Of course, some volunteers will take more than one shift and not every site requires three stations operating every day–but you get a sense for the numbers we’re dealing with. Even half, 945 volunteers, just for registration would completely overwhelm all other volunteer coordinating efforts.

The decision for a voter registration site was made based on the site being a pre-existing, non-profit arts or civic institution committed to using their own volunteers to staff registration during their business hours. There are three exceptions to this rule:

• ArtPrize Headquarters @ Old Federal: We’ll insure this registration site is open during all ArtPrize hours, staffed with our volunteers to troubleshoot any technical issues a registrant might have
• The Amway Grand Plaza & JW Marriott: Chosen for the convenience of out-of-town guests

REGISTRATION SITES

Note: All locations have agreed to be open the evening of Wed, Sept 23–Opening Night

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
187 Monroe Ave
M-Su: 9a-6p

ArtPrize Headquarters @ Old Federal
155 N. Division
M-Th: 5p-8p, F-Sa: noon-10p, Su: noon-6p

Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park
1000 East Beltline NE
M: 9a-5p, Tu: 9a-9p, W-Sa: 9a-5p, Su: noon-5p

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
111 Pearl NW
M-F: 8:30a-5p, Sa-Su: closed

Grand Rapids Art Museum
101 Monroe Center
M: closed, Tu-Th: 10a-5p, F: 10a-9p, Sa: 10a-5p, Su: noon-5p

Grand Rapids Ballet Co.
341 Ellsworth SW
M-Th: 9a-7p, F: 9a-5p, Sa: 9a-1p, Su: closed

Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
11 Sheldon NE
M: closed, Tu-W: 9:30a-5p, Th: 9:30a-8p, F-Sa: 9:30a-5p, Su: noon-5p

Grand Rapids Community College
Student Community Center off Lyon St
M-F: 8a-5p, Sa-Su: closed

Grand Rapids Symphony
300 Ottawa NW, Suite 100
M-F: 9a-5p, Sa-Su: closed

Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl NW
M: 9a-5p, Tu: 9a-9p, W-Sa: 9a-5p, Su: noon-5p

GVSU University Bookstore
401 W. Fulton
M-Th: 8a-6p, F: 8a-5p, Sa: 8a-2p, Su: closed

JW Marriott
235 Louis NW
M-Su: 9a-6p

Main Public Library
111 Library NE
M-Th: 9a-9p, F-Sa: 9a-6p, Su: 1p-5p

UICA
41 Sheldon SE
M: 9-8p, Tu-F: 9-10p, Sa: noon-10p, Su: noon-7p