ArtPrize


ArtPrize is an art competition and festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Anyone over the age of 18 can display their art, and any space within the three-square-mile ArtPrize district can be a venue. There are typically over 160 venues such as museums, galleries, bars, restaurants, hotels, public parks, bridges, laundromats, auto body shops, and more.
ArtPrize lasts for 19 days beginning in late September, and during each festival $500,000 in cash prizes are awarded based on public voting and a jury of art experts. ArtPrize was originally an annual event; in 2018 it was switched to a biennial schedule.
ArtPrize was created in 2009 by Rick DeVos, the son of Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos and United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. The DeVos family contributes approximately $560,000 annually to the ArtPrize budget. In 2017, the festival's connection to the DeVos family's wealth and their conservative politics was criticized by artist Eric Millikin in his “Made of Money” installation, placed within ArtPrize.
In 2014, The Art Newspaper listed ArtPrize as one of the most-attended "big ticket" art events, with ArtPrize's attendance of 440,000 being roughly one quarter of the 1.6 million who attended the Russian Imperial Costume exhibition at the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. ArtPrize was highlighted along with Slows Bar BQ and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park as one of the reasons to visit Grand Rapids in The New York Times’ "52 Places To Go in 2016."
ArtPrize was scrapped in 2020 as officials blamed the COVID-19 pandemic as grounds for cancellation. The 12th was deferred to 2021.

Concept

ArtPrize was conceived by Rick DeVos as an untraditional art contest with its goals being: any artist in the world could compete; anyone with property in downtown Grand Rapids could turn their space into a venue; and any visitor could vote for their favorite artwork. Event organizers would provide no selection committees or curators. And the largest cash prize in the art world would be awarded entirely by popular vote.
At the inaugural ArtPrize, held in 2009, the winners were determined solely by the public, voting from mobile devices and the ArtPrize website. In 2010, ArtPrize added categories judged by art experts, and in 2014 restructured the awards format bringing two parallel tracks of public vote and juried awards with equal prize amounts. The updated award structure includes two Grand Prizes of $200,000, one chosen by public vote and one selected by a panel of three arts experts. An additional $100,000 in awards are given to artists in four entry categories—Two-Dimensional, Three-Dimensional, Time-Based, and Installation—as well as the Outstanding Venue Juried Award for best curatorial presentation.
Visitors must attend the annual event in person in order to vote. They can either download the ArtPrize mobile app, free for iOS and Android devices, which uses location services to determine when a visitor has stepped into the three square-mile event district—or visit an to register in person. Each artist is assigned a 5-digit vote code which is posted near their entry during the event, and available both online and in the mobile app.

2009 competition

The 2009 exhibition occurred in a area of downtown Grand Rapids, from September 21 to October 9, 2009. 1,262 artists or artist collaboratives displayed their work in 159 venues. An estimated 200,000 attendees visited the event, with 334,219 total votes cast throughout the 19 days.

Participation

ArtPrize 2009 official participation numbers:
The 2009 prizes, totaling to $449,000, were:
On October 1, the top 10 entries were announced, and their ranking was announced October 8:
  1. Open Water no.24 - Ran Ortner
  2. Imagine That! - Tracy Van Duinen
  3. Portraits - Eric Daigh
  4. The Grand Dance - David Lubbers
  5. Moose - Bill Secunda
  6. Nessie on the Grand - The Nessie Project
  7. Field of Reeds - John Douglas Powers
  8. The Furniture City Sets the Table for the World of Art - Sarah Grant
  9. Ecstasy of The Scarlet Empress - Jason Hackenwerth
  10. winddancer 2 - Michael Westra

    Surprise Awards

Two previously unannounced awards were handed out:
The 2010 event took place from September 22 to October 10. The event introduced "Exhibition Centers," local cultural institutions featuring professional curation. Each ArtPrize Exhibition Center was required to host voter registration/activation as well as a retail presence. ArtPrize sought to have at least one Exhibition Center in each downtown Grand Rapids neighborhood.

Participation

ArtPrize 2010 official participation numbers:
The 2010 prizes, which were decided by public vote, totaled $449,000, were:
On September 30, the 2010 Top 10 entries were announced, and their rankings were revealed during the Winners Announcement on October 7:
  1. Cavalry, American Officers, 1921 - Chris LaPorte, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  2. Svelata - Mia Tavonatti, Santa Ana, California
  3. Lure/Wave, Grand Rapids - Beili Liu, Austin, Texas
  4. A Matter Of Time - Paul Baliker, Palm Coast, Florida
  5. Vision - David Spriggs, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  6. Helping mom one penny at a time - Wander Martich, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  7. Dancing With Lions - Bill Secunda, Butler, Pennsylvania
  8. salt & earth - Young Kim, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  9. SteamPig - The Steam Pig Experiment Birks, Jensen, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  10. Elephant Walk - Fredrick Prescott, Santa Fe, New Mexico

    Juried Awards

Event organizers announced the addition of four juried awards for ArtPrize 2010. Event organizers noted that, depending on sponsor availability, more juried awards might be added to the program.

Categories and winners

2011 competition

The 2011 event ran from September 21 to October 9. The biggest change to the competition was the addition of an exhibition center dedicated to performance art—St. Cecilia Music Society. The organization was also the recipient of a $100,000 Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Participation

ArtPrize 2011 official participation numbers:
The 2011 prizes, which were decided by public vote, totaled $449,000, were:
On September 30, the 2010 Top 10 entries were announced, and their rankings were revealed during the Winners Announcement on October 6:
  1. Crucifixion - Mia Tavonatti, Santa Ana, California
  2. The Metaphorist Project - Tracy Van Duinen, Chicago, Illinois
  3. Rain - Lynda Cole, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  4. President Gerald Ford Visits ArtPrize - Sunti Pichetchaiyakul, Thailand and Montana
  5. Rusty: A Sense of Direction/Self Portrait - Ritch Branstrom, Rapid River, Michigan
  6. Grizzlies on the Ford - Llew “Doc” Tilma, Wayland, Michigan
  7. The Tempest II - Laura Alexander, Columbus, Ohio
  8. Ocean Exodus - Paul Baliker, Palm Coast, Florida
  9. Under Construction - Robert Shangle, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  10. Mantis Dreaming" - Bill Secunda, Butler, Pennsylvania

    Juried Awards

In addition to awards distributed as a result of a public vote, the organization distributed seven juried awards for ArtPrize 2011. An award dedicated to an outstanding venue was added in 2011. Each juried award winner received $7,000.

Categories and winners

2012 competition

The 2012 ArtPrize competition ran from September 19 to October 7. The event introduced new changes to the ArtPrize Juried Awards program, including category prizes valued at $20,000 and a first-ever $100,000 Juried Grand Prize, decided by panel of three art experts.

Participation

ArtPrize 2012 official participation numbers:
The 2012 prizes, which were decided by public vote, totaled $360,000, were:
The top 10 entries were determined by a record 412,560 votes, and announced on October 10.
  1. Elephants - Adonna Khare, Burbank, Calif.
  2. Song of Lift - Martijn van Wagtendonk, Colbert, Ga.
  3. Rebirth of Spring - Frits Hoendervanger, Detroit, Mich.
  4. Stick-to-it-ive-ness: Unwavering pertinacity; perseverance - Richard Morse, Fennville, Mich.
  5. Lights in the Night - Mark Carpenter and Dan Johnson, Grand Rapids, Mich.
  6. Life in Wood - Dan Heffron, Traverse City, Mich.
  7. Origami - Kumi Yamashita, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  8. The Chase - Artistry of Wildlife, Marlette, Mich.
  9. Return to Eden - Sandra Bryant, Lynden, Wa.
  10. City Band - Chris LaPorte, Grand Rapids, Mich.

    Juried Awards

In addition to awards distributed as a result of a public vote, the organization distributed seven juried awards, totaling $200,000, during ArtPrize 2012 in five categories and a juried grand prize. Each category winner received $20,000. The Juried Grand Prize winner was awarded $100,000. The award was decided by a three-member jury panel.

Juried Grand Prize winner

2013 competition

The 2013 ArtPrize competition ran from September 18 to October 6.

Participation

ArtPrize 2013 official participation numbers:
The 2013 prizes, which were decided by public vote, totaled $360,000, were:
The top 10 entries were determined by a record 446,850 votes, and announced on October 4.
  1. Sleeping Bear Dune Lakeshore - Ann Loveless, Frankfort, Mich.
  2. Polar Expressed - Anni Crouter, Flint, Mich.
  3. UPlifting - Andy Sacksteder, Port Clinton, Ohio
  4. Dancing With Mother Nature - Paul Baliker, Palm Coast, Fla.
  5. Botanical Exotica a Monumental Collection of the Rare beautiful - Jason Gamrath, Seattle, Wash.
  6. Earth Giant - Benjamin Gazsi, Morgantown, W.V.
  7. Myth-or-Logic - Robin Protz, New Hartford, Conn.
  8. Finding Beauty in Bad Things: Porcelain Vine - Fraser Smith, St Pete Beach, Fla.
  9. Taking Flight - Michael Gard, San Francisco, Calif.
  10. Tired Pandas - Nick Jakubiak, Battle Creek, Mich.

Juried awards

In addition to awards distributed as a result of a public vote, the organization distributed seven juried awards, totaling $200,000, during ArtPrize 2013 in five categories and a juried grand prize. Each category winner received $20,000. The Juried Grand Prize winner was awarded $100,000. The award was decided by a three-member jury panel.

Juried Grand Prize winner

Controversy

David Dodde’s Fleurs et riviere was an entry that placed magnetic flowers on the Alexander Calder sculpture La Grande Vitesse. After getting complaints, the City of Grand Rapids contacted the Calder Foundation to get their input. Calder's grandson, Alexander S. C. Rower, replied: "The initiative is luckily temporary and reflects an utter lack of understanding and respect of Calder's genius." The city decided to have the flowers removed before the end of the exhibition.

2014 competition

The 2014 ArtPrize competition ran from September 24 to October 12.

Participation

ArtPrize 2014 official participation numbers:
The public vote determined three $20,000 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner. The grand prize winner does not receive $20,000 for their category win.

Public Vote Grand Prize winner

Juried Awards

The jury awarded five $20,000 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner. There was a tie for the grand prize, so each winner received $100,000.

Juried Grand Prize winners

A first in ArtPrize history, the Grand Prize Jury recognized two outstanding works—splitting the $200,000 Juried Grand Prize.
This is also the first time the opinions of both the voting public and the jury of art experts converged, awarding a top prize to one piece -- Intersections by Anila Quayyum Agha.

Category Award winners

2015 competition

The 2015 ArtPrize competition ran from September 23 to October 11.

Participation

ArtPrize 2015 official participation numbers:
The public vote determined three $12,500 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner. The grand prize winner does not receive $12,500 for their category win.

Public Vote Grand Prize winner

The jury awarded five $12,500 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner.

Juried Grand Prize winner

The category winners were:
The jurors were:
AwardJurorTitle
Juried Grand PrizeDan Cameron
Michael Rakowitz
Lisa Freiman
Two-DimensionalJustine Ludwig
Three-DimensionalSarah Urist Green
Time-BasedShari Frilot
InstallationRobin Cembalest
Outstanding venueSteven Matijcio

2016 Competition

The 2016 ArtPrize competition, also known as ArtPrize Eight, took place from September 21 to October 9.

Participation

The public vote determined three $12,500 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner. The grand prize winner does not receive $12,500 for their category win.

Public Vote Grand Prize Winner

Wounded Warrior Dogs - James Mellick, Milford Center, Ohio

Category Award Winners

The jury awarded five $12,500 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner.

Juried Grand Prize Winner

The Bureau of Personal Belonging - Stacey Kirby, Durham, North Carolina

Category Award Winners

The ArtPrize Eight jurors included:
AwardJurorTitle
Juried Grand PrizeMichelle GrabnerArtist and professor at School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Paul HaDirector at the MIT List Visual Arts Center
Eric ShinerSenior Vice President at Sotheby’s
Two-DimensionalTina Rivers RyanNew York-based art historian and critic
Three-DimensionalOmar Lopez-ChahoudArtistic Director and Curator of UNTITLED Art Fair, Miami Beach and San Francisco
InstallationDeana HaggagDirector of The Contemporary in Baltimore, Maryland
Time-BasedYesomi UmoluExhibitions Curator at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago
Outstanding VenueSteve DietzFounder, President, and Artistic Director of Northern Lights.mn in Minneapolis

2017 Competition

The 2017 ArtPrize competition, also known as ArtPrize Nine, took place from September 20 to October 8.

Participation

The public vote determined three $12,500 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner. The grand prize winner does not receive $12,500 for their category win.

Public Vote Grand Prize Winner

A. Lincoln - Richard Schlatter, Battle Creek, Michigan

Category Award Winners

The jury awarded five $12,500 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner.

Juried Grand Prize Winner

The Heartside Community Meal - Seitu Jones, St. Paul, Minnesota

Category Award Winners

The ArtPrize Nine jurors included:
AwardJurorTitle
Juried Grand PrizeGaëtane VernaDirector of The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto
Christopher ScoatesDirector of Cranbrook Academy of Art and Art Museum in Detroit
Gia HamiltonDirector at Joan Mitchell Center in New Orleans
Two-DimensionalMiranda LashCurator of Contemporary Art at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville
Three-DimensionalRachel AdamsSenior Curator of Exhibitions for the University at Buffalo Art Galleries
InstallationAnila Quayyum AghaArtist, Associate Professor of Drawing at Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, and $300,000 Public Vote and Juried Award winner at ArtPrize 2014 for her work Intersections
Time-BasedScott StulenDirector and President of Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa
Outstanding VenueLarry Ossei-MensahNew York-based independent curator and cultural critic, Co-Founder of ARTNOIR

2018 Competition

The 2018 ArtPrize competition, also known as ArtPrize 10, ran from September 19 to October 7.
Important Dates
ItemDates
Venue RegistrationMarch 5-April 5
Artist RegistrationApril 16-June 7
ConnectionsApril 25-June 28
Volunteer RegistrationOpens early-August
Preview WeekSeptember 12–18
ArtPrize 10September 19-October 7