ArtPrize Announces New Grants for Artists Worth $55,000

ArtPrize today announced a brand new grant program for 2016. ArtPrize Featured Public Projects will grant $55,000 directly to artists, ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 per project.

The grants will be given to artists for entries at four ArtPrize venues: Vandenberg (Calder) Plaza, Ah-Nab-Awen Park, Grand River and Gillett Bridge.

ArtPrize is now accepting proposals for large, ambitious public art projects to take residence at the four highly visible public sites in downtown Grand Rapids during ArtPrize 2016.

Today marks the beginning of part one in a two-part application process for ArtPrize Featured Public Projects.

Interested artists are encouraged to answer a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), describing their project idea for one of the four possible sites and demonstrating their experience creating large-scale public art projects. The ArtPrize Art Advisory Council and staff will review all materials submitted, selecting two to three artists per site to move on to the second part of the application process.

ArtPrize will accept RFQs through March 10, 2016 at 5PM EST. See the proposal requirements for each site.

During the second stage, the selected artists will each be provided a $500 stipend to complete detailed proposals. Artists must demonstrate that projects can be built on time and on budget, and will not pose a risk to the public or city infrastructure. ArtPrize will work with artists to ensure that the proposals include all of the information required by the City of Grand Rapids. Ultimately, one proposal will be selected per site and awarded a grant.

In addition to grants, selected artists will also receive supplies and services from sponsoring construction, shipping and engineering firms to help offset the cost of bringing their ambitious projects to Grand Rapids.

In 2015 ArtPrize granted $220,000 to artists, venues and educators. These programs included Artist Seed Grants, supported by the Frey Foundation, and Pitch Nights -- which directly support artists’ work; Transportation Grants, which bring students to downtown Grand Rapids from across the state to explore the event; Education Days Grants, which support ArtPrize institutional partners in creating innovative programming with their artists for visiting students; Fellowship for Emerging Curators, which offers young curators the opportunity to work alongside and learn from experienced curators; and Venue Grants, which support venues in producing their ArtPrize exhibitions.

ArtPrize will take place in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan from September 21 to October 19, 2016. Venue registration for the eighth annual event will be open from March 7 to April 7, and artist registration from April 18 to June 2.