If you were a part of registering for ArtPrize 2009 and part of the “matching” process between artists and venues (think matchmaker.com, but with artists looking for space to exhibit), you’ll notice a few changes this year. Based on feedback from artists and venues regarding the 2009 event, we’ve changed registration and matching for 2010.
In 2009, artists and venues registered simultaneously. During registration, we even opened up matching. This created some confusion and angst. Many artists wanted to base their work on a specific space, but new venues were signing up all the time. Venues wanted to know all of the artists registered before planning their show, but artists were securing venues as new ones signed up each day. Urgency for artists and venues to rush through planning was part of the first year experiment. However, it doesn’t need to be part of the future.
In 2010, venue registration, artist registration and matching will be broken out into separate time periods.
Venue Registration for 2010
Open: Monday, March 15 (Noon EDT)
Close: Thursday April 15, 2010 (5:00PM EDT)
Artist Registration for 2010
Open: Monday, April 19 (Noon EDT)
Close: Thursday, May 27 (5:00PM EDT)
Artist/Venue Matching Period for 2010
Open: Tuesday, June 1 (Noon EDT)
Close: Thursday, July 1 (5:00PM EDT)
We’ll start with venues. So, when artists register, they can plan their work around a known quantity of spaces available. Then artists will register. Venues can use this time to see who is joining and start planning a show. After artist registration ends, matching begins. Venues and artists will have had time to develop a “game plan” during the registration process, and many will probably have already begun talks informally. So, during the month of June, negotiations over the Hosting Agreement can take place and artists can formally secure venues. By the close of Matching July 1, there’s plenty of time to work on the logistics of staging an exhibition.
ArtPrize 2010, the event, happens September 22 – October 10
ArtPrize 2009 was, in many aspects, successful on a scale beyond what any of us anticipated. In looking toward 2010, we are careful not to make sweeping changes to an event that worked so well in it’s first year, and is still very much in its youth. ArtPrize is put on by thousands of independent participants working within the simple framework we’ve set up, and one of our biggest anticipations is how venues and artists will adapt their plans for 2010, now that 2009 is under their belts. So, we don’t want to drastically change the game. Our work for the past few months has been to identify a few key areas of the event that can run smoother, so overall participation is improved. One area we’ve identified is represented by the introduction of Exhibition Centers.
Within the first few days of 2009’s event, The Old Federal Building became a venue with tremendous buzz. “If you have two hours to go to ArtPrize, go to The Old Federal Building,” was the advice visitors passed on to their friends. Why was this? Read More »
The interview is part of the launch for Michigan Radio’s new Three Things series:
To start a new year, Michigan Radio will take a look at how we can make things better in our state. We’re launching a series of interviews called “Three Things.” Michigan Radio’s Morning Edition host Christina Shockley will be asking artists, politicians, business owners, teachers, and people from all walks of life to give us their three ideas for things each of us can do to revive our state.
Well, it’s a little redundant to write about who won ArtPrize 2009 here on the blog. For those curious about the press coverage, I’ve compiled some links below and embedded the video of last nights Winners Celebration.
We brought in Nicole Caruth, frequent contributor to the Art21 blog, to come, observe and respond to ArtPrize. While here, she interviewed four guests from the art world to give their thoughts and help shape the conversation around ArtPrize. Her own thoughts she collected in her “Eyes on the Prize” series.
See excerpts of Nicole’s interviews with:
Peter Murray, Founding Director of Yorkshire Sculpture Park
West Bretton, Wakefield (UK)
Adam D. Weinberg, Director, Whitney Museum of American Art
New York, NY (USA)
Michael M. Kaiser, President, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, D.C. (USA)
Mary Jane Jacob, Professor and Executive Director of Exhibitions and Exhibition Studies
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL (USA)
Read Nicole’s observations in her “Eyes on the Prize” series: Read More »
Many restaurants in downtown Grand Rapids are extending happy hours and other specials until 7PM, tonight. Get a beverage and some food, then come to the ArtPrize Winners Announcement and Celebration beginning at 7PM at DeVos Place (Steelcase Ballroom). The event is open and free to the public.
Cash in on some of these deals before the celebration begins. (Restaurants will also have ArtPrize wristbands to give away.)
The B.O.B.
616-356-2000
Extending Happy Hour Food and Drink specials until 7PM
TGI Friday’s
(616) 742-8443
Happy Hours specials extended until 7PM
Flanagan’s
(616) 454-7852
$2 wells, $3 Long Islands, $3 u calls, $4 bombs and food specials until 7PM
Charley’s Crab
(616) 459-2500
$3,$4,$5 appetizers, $3 wells, $4 glass of wine, $5 martinis, until 7PM
Ritz Koney Island Grill and Bar
(616)451-3701
$2 you name it, we make it! Until 7PM
McFadden’s
(616) 454-9105
Half off drinks, $4.95 pizzas 5-8 PM
Tap House Lounge
(616) 774-3338
Regular happy hour $3 long islands, $2.50 beers, 4-7PM
It was going to be at Rosa Parks Circle, but due to the weather we moved the ArtPrize Winners Announcement & Celebration indoors, to the Steelcase Ballroom at DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW. It is free and open to everyone.
Doors open at 6PM, tomorrow. There is no charge to attend. Starting at 7PM, enjoy performances by Bollywood Dance Troupe, blue13, Chicago’s Bucket Boys, New Century Shadow Dancers and – at 8:20 – hear the announcement of the winner of ArtPrize 2009. Celebrate afterward with blue13.
Food is available for purchase and a cash bar.
UPDATE: We initially reported $5 for a calzone and soda, but the price for the general public is $6.50. Volunteers, wear your red Ask Me shirt and pick up a meal ticket from Kathy, so you can eat free.
Sponsored by Meijer, Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation, Rick and Melissa DeVos, Daniel and Pamella DeVos, Douglas and Maria DeVos, Richard and Helen DeVos, VanderWeide Family
Who are the winners?
The winner of the $250,000 art prize is the artist with the most votes. Cast your vote by 11:59PM tonight.
Did you pick up a copy of today’s Grand Rapids Press?
You may notice the map looks incomplete. It is. Pick up the complete and corrected map in tomorrow’s paper (Monday, 9.21.09) or download the pdf files for the maps.
UPDATE: The 9/20/09 issue of the GR Press experienced a tech snafu and printed only a portion of the ArtPrize map. The correct map will be in tomorrow’s (9/21/09) paper.
When you register to vote, you can upgrade your ArtPrize experience for $15. You’ll receive an event guide and a wristband. The wristband not only gets you preferred access to Official ArtPrize events and free ArtPrize shuttle rides, but the following deals from downtown merchants.
Participating artists receive a free wristband, check your email for details on how to pick it up.
Left: Participating artist wristband, Right: Voter wristband (part of $15 upgrade)
There is free Rapid service (Grand Rapids public transit system) during ArtPrize hours for visitors wearing ArtPrize wristbands.
Anyone with an ArtPrize wristband can ride the ArtPrize Shuttle and The Rapid for free during ArtPrize hours. (Pick up a wristband and event guide for $15 when you register to vote.)
See maps and hours of operation below. Read More »
Now, keep in mind you still have to present your government issued ID when you come down to ArtPrize, some time between Sept 23-Oct 7. But you can save time at the registration site by having the rest of your info already in our system.
First off if you’re planning an ArtPrize specific event (reception, workshop, artist talk, etc) please email events@artprize.org. Be sure to check out Neighborhood Days.
Mark it down, pre-registration begins Monday! (You still have to present a valid ID at a registration site starting 9/23, but having all of your information in beforehand will save you time.)
ArtPrize is just around the corner, which means that anyone one who comes to Grand Rapids will soon be able to vote and help determine the winner of the world’s largest art prize.
ArtPrize, and ArtPrize voting, doesn’t start until September 23, but you can pre-register online starting September 14. Why pre-register? It will save time. You will still need to show a government issued ID at a registration location on or after the 23rd to be able to vote, but pre-registration will make that process a lot quicker. We’ll have more info about exactly how to pre-register on the 14th.
We’ve tried to make voting as simple as we can, but we also want to make sure it’s fair, so there are a few rules. Read More »
Below is a list of events either ArtPrize has planned or one of our sponsors. When you register to vote, you will have the option to purchase a wristband and event guide. The wristband will get you preferred seating and access to most of these events.
I apologize things have been so quiet on the blog. It’s the result of a blizzard of activity happening here in the office. With the August 15 deadline passing, the activity has only increased and it looks like it will get busier with only a month to go before Opening Day on Sept 23.
What have we been working on? We’re in the final stages of nailing down a bunch of things many of you have been asking about: Voter Registration Sites and Events being at the top of the list. We’re planning on making those announcements later this week.
I know many venues, artists and local businesses are trying to plan events and print promotional materials. There are two things you should know about as you’re preparing those materials.
LOGO USAGE
There are two pieces ArtPrize provides for people preparing promotional materials for their own events:
1) The wordmark:
2) ArtPrize “Seals” (for artists, venues, sponsors and registration sites):
Artists/Venues can download the seal from your “You” page on artprize.org.
The ArtPrize logo (Orange image above the Capital A) is NOT intended for general use:
We know it’s out there, but we request to please avoid using it, if possible. (Don’t worry about printing all new postcards promoting yourself, if they’re already done.) Why? It’s the only mark we have to designate official ArtPrize events and materials, like the Opening Night event or Official Program Guide.
NEIGHBORHOOD DAYS
The ArtPrize District will be divided up into five neighborhoods (details coming soon) and we’ll have days for those neighborhoods to organize around. DO NOT WORRY if you planned something that’s not on your neighborhood day. It’s just a way to help people, say, on the Westside pick a day for parties, receptions, special deals at restaurants, et cetera when they’re concerned that their event may conflict with some other big event they don’t know about happening on the other side of town. That announcement is coming soon.
The 900th artist to secure a venue is Jean Sanders, a printmaking professor at Pennsylvania State College. You can see Jean’s work during the event at The Riverview Center.
There are less than four days until artist/venue matching ends.
***11:59pm SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, IS THE DEADLINE FOR ARTIST/VENUE MATCHING***
For anyone wondering what happens on Sunday–when the dust settles–to an artist without a venue or a venue that didn’t secure an artist, well… Read More »
I know it’s getting a little redundant, but here’s a reminder that this Saturday is the last day artists and venues can secure each other.
By 11:59pm this Saturday night, all artists and venues who have reached an agreement must have completed the final step (both parties click the Secure artist/Secure venue buttons so our system knows you’ve reached an agreement).
WHAT’S NEXT?
ARTISTS
Any artist who has not secured a venue by 11:59pm Saturday, August 15, will not be eligible to compete in ArtPrize. Artists can still show work at the event, but that work will not be available for voting or listed in any ArtPrize materials. Venue hosts are not obligated in any way to reach agreements after Aug 15.
The Artist registration fee will not be refunded. Read why.
VENUES
Any venue that has not secured at least one artist by 11:59pm Saturday, August 15, will not be listed in any of the ArtPrize materials and will not be considered an ArtPrize venue. A venue must have ArtPrize registered artists exhibit in it to be an ArtPrize venue.
Be sure you know the final step. If you don’t complete the final step, you may wake up Sunday morning wondering why there are no artists listed under your venue, even though you signed Hosting Agreements.
The Venue registration fee will not be refunded to venues without artists. Read why.
If you were a part of registering for ArtPrize 2009 and part of the “matching” process between artists and venues (think matchmaker.com, but with artists looking for space to exhibit), you’ll notice a few changes this year. Based on feedback from artists and venues regarding the 2009 event, we’ve changed registration and matching for 2010.
The 900th artist to secure a venue is 