Preliminary Numbers for ArtPrize 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.
So exciting. We there be a way to see how many artist from each state? Want to connect with others in our area.
Wendy, you can certainly search the website. I recommend you email Kevin in artist relations and ask for a list of other artists in your state.
Will there be a way we to ensure voters know all areas availabe to see art? I would hate for some great artists to not end up getting viewed because their location is considered on the “outskirts” of the artprize parameters
Voters will certainly have plenty of information at their disposal to find and see art. Whether or not they use the information to go to far flung venues, is at their discretion. It can be safely assumed that venues which are hard to get to will see less foot traffic than venues that are centrally located and densely grouped together. However, if buzz builds around a hidden gem, that can certainly change the dynamics.
There were many artists that didnt find venues. Why dont you mach the remainder up automatically with venues with space instead of excluding them? They have worked hard on their peices and have payed the entry fee.
Hi Robin,
ArtPrize wants venues to have the freedom to put on the show they want without our interference. 3 out of 4 artists found space within 192 different venues with wildly different exhibitions planned. Although some artists were turned away–many of whom deserve to be exhibited–ArtPrize is still incredibly open and diverse, with a high ratio of artists who apply to artists who exhibit.
Congrats to Artprize as this unique event continues to grow. Its exciting to be part of the experiment this year. I know full well that not all voters will see everything but with so many venues is it even possible? There will be overlooked gems all over but the question I have is do the event promoters get to see and enjoy all the nice work they’ve brought to Grand Rapids?
It is indeed exciting that Stepping Stones Montesorri is hosting three artists. I find it equally exciting that Coit Creative Arts Academy, a Grand Rapids Public School is a venue.
I shall be showing my peice, The Embrace, At the Spectrum Theatre in Grand Rapids Community College, please come check it out!