ArtPrize looks ahead at Annual Report Breakfast

ArtPrize looks ahead at Annual Report Breakfast

“Northwood Awakening — a 2-D mixed-media piece — by Loveless PhotoFiber won the ArtPrize Seven Public Vote Grand Prize. The piece took more than 1,000 hours to create. Photo via artprize.org

ArtPrize made a number of announcements at its Annual Report Breakfast this morning.

ArtPrize announced rule changes, a new member to its board of directors, its guiding principles and $273,000 in grants.

“As an annual event, we are committed to building a world-class exhibition every year,” said Christian Gaines, executive director, ArtPrize.

ArtPrize runs from Sept. 21 to Oct. 9 this year.

Venue registration for the 8th-annual event opened two days ago and is open until April 7 for any space in downtown Grand Rapids.

New rules

Artists who have won the public vote grand prize or juried grand prize are no longer eligible to enter ArtPrize.

Previous winning pieces will still be featured at the ArtPrize Hub or other venues to celebrate those artists.

Another new rule was announced that will limit the number of pieces from a single venue that can advance to the Final 20 to two.

New board member

ArtPrize has named Leslie Koch to its board of directors.

Koch is the president and CEO of Governors Island, an abandoned military base at the tip of Manhattan that was turned into a public space with thousands of visitors every year.

“Leslie brings a unique skill set to the ArtPrize Board of Directors,” said Rick DeVos, founder and board chairman, ArtPrize. “Her strong background in the nonprofit sector and acumen for strategy, cultural programming and economic development have led her to spearhead the transformation of Governors Island in New York. Her insights, guidance and network will be a tremendous asset to ArtPrize.”

Guiding principles

ArtPrize also put to words its fundamental values to ensure guided growth in the future:

  • ArtPrize Celebrates Artists
  • ArtPrize is a Catalyst
  • ArtPrize Transforms Urban Space
  • ArtPrize Challenges Everyone
  • ArtPrize Generates Conversation
  • ArtPrize is Intentionally Inclusive
  • ArtPrize Promotes Social Good
  • ArtPrize Embraces Technology
  • ArtPrize is an Evolving Experiment

Suite of grants

ArtPrize also detailed a suite of grants to help venues and artists.

A new partnership with Independent Curators International will help with the second year of the event’s Fellowship for Emerging Curators.

The ArtPrize Pitch Night program will add Louisville, Kentucky to its roster, along with the return of Minneapolis, Indianapolis and Durham, North Carolina.

ArtPrize also recently announced its Featured Public Projects program, which will grant $55,000 total to artists for “large, ambitious public arts projects.”

Other grants include Artist Seed Grants, Education Day Grants, Transportation Grants and Venue Grants.