ArtPrize Blog
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 »
