GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Artists and Admirers of Grand Rapids’ 13 year old art competition, ArtPrize, may be surprised that it will be changing shape going forward. 

“ArtPrize 2.0” will be a new experimental version of the same competition but will have Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI), the City of Grand Rapids, and Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD) as the new leaders of the program.  

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DGRI President and CEO Tim Kelly revealed that many of the main ArtPrize elements will stay the same including the competition element featuring prizes by public vote and will take place in September, but the dates for the next competition have not been determined. 

“What started as an experiment in 2009 quickly became something more, and we have an entire community to thank for embracing the ArtPrize idea and taking it to amazing heights,” founder Rick DeVos and chairman on the ArtPrize board said, “…While there are certainly mixed emotions, we know the time is right to conclude the original ArtPrize experiment and open up space for new energy and creativity. We are thrilled that the partnership of DGRI, KCAD, and the City of Grand Rapids is stepping forward to continue to produce an incredible fall event.”

KCAD had an exhibit at the 2022 ArtPrize featuring 10 unique artists from across the KCAD community that highlights the celebrates the mastery and innovation of KCAD’s outstanding faculty and staff, our accomplished graduates, and passionate students,” Director of Curatorial for Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State Michele Bosak said. The exhibit was meant to show viewers of the limitless possibilities and pathways that a creative education opens up.  

“Every destination community has a destination event that captures the spirit and aspirations of that community,” Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss said, “For us, ArtPrize has been a manifestation of the independent creative spirit that defines Grand Rapids, and has captured the imagination of people from around the world.”

ArtPrize has held 13 events since 2009 and awarded more than $6 million through a combination of public votes, juried awards and grants. Millions of people across the globe have participated in ArtPrize in some fashion – displaying their work, performing, opening their spaces, volunteering, or visiting and enjoying Grand Rapids each fall according to the ArtPrize press release. 

For a complete list of the winners throughout the years, see the 2022 winners and the  ArtPrize History by Year, including the first winner, Ron porter, who won the original grand prize winner in the first year of the program for his piece “Open Water no. 24”.