Announcing “The Hub” @ Old Federal Building
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 HubSM.
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
Where is the Hub?
Thanks.
155 N Division Ave, corner of Pearl St & Division.
This is a great idea, it would be great to have a central place to meet and learn about ArtPrize.
Wow, the Hub. Wonderful idea, cool logo. Art Prize just keeps getting better. See you there.
I’m looking forward to visiting Grand Rapids & the Art Prize competition w/my friends from Commerce Township on September 27th & 28th. We are staying overnight so we can see everything including the Meijer Gardens.
Will there be more ways of going in and out of the building compared to last year? Is there an Artist ONLY entrance?
Thanks for the information.
Sounds like a great idea to allow voters to dialogue with artists and enjoy the moment.
Randy
Great location!
Thanks! This is a fabulous idea and I agree, that is an awesome logo.
@Joanna,
No. But there will be a desk where artists must check in to enter the Artist Lounge.
Kevin
The Hub logo is very reminiscent of an iMac + Nelson Clock. How fitting and perfect!
@marilyn. Good for you for planning to stay the night to maximize your stay. I recommend that you do as much research online before your visit and plan carefully. Two days will allow you only to touch major points. I suggest going to Meijer Gardens in the am since many sites are not open until noon and you can get into the Gardens by 9 am. Last year I spent at least many afternoons or evenings, not counting driving around looking at the things that could be seen from the road, and I did not begin to see it all. Have fun.
Please post the date and time that the store at the Hub opens. I have a specific item I’d like to purchase and I’ve been told to come early. So I need to know the first day and open time of the Hub Store. Thanks
[...] If you want to know what everyone’s talking about, go spend some time at The Hub. It’s located at 155 N. Division in the Center of Grand Rapids (it’s also known as the old Federal Building.) Here’s more about The Hub from the official ArtPrize blog. [...]
Thought for next year. It would be really great if artists could get their name badges before the 6PM opening. Many of us will be at our venue right at 6PM, so this is a bit inconvenient.
Thanks!
What are the hours of the hub and gift shop?
Ben,
The Hub (and store) hours are:
# Opening Day, September 22, 2010, 6PM-10PM
# Monday-Thursday Noon-8PM
# Friday & Saturday Noon-10PM
# Sunday Noon-6PM
Bill,
We’ve heard this from a number a people. We appreciate the feedback, and we’re going to see what we can to do improve the situation next year.
Kevin
we were hoping to check out artprize this weekend. will we be lost if neither of us use phones with internet? can we still vote and participate?
Yes, most absolutely! You don’t need a phone with internet access to vote. You can vote via text messaging OR you can vote on any computer with an internet connection. You just need to register and activate your voting status.
The Hub. What a nice welcoming way to maximize community involvement…and sell merchandise. Love the evening hours too so I can come by after work. Thanks!
The Hub is awesome.
I like to see the voters visit every venue. Purhaps there could be a punch card with every venue listed and have a drawing for a prize. Then there would be an incentive to see all of the art.
Was disappointed I was not able to finalize my registration to vote on 9/28/11 due to the artprize server being down 99% of the day. It is great that it was extended until 4pm of the following day but unfortunately I am unable to get there before the 4 pm deadline. Extending it for the amount of time it has been down would help many of us to get our votes cast. What do you think??