This morning, ArtPrize announced changes coming to the annual event in Grand Rapids including new rules which limit the number of entries from a single venue which may advance to the final round.

New Rules

ArtPrize has announced two rule changes for 2016.

First, artists who have previously won the Public Vote Grand Prize or the Juried Grand Prize are no longer eligible to enter the competition. Winners of public vote and juried category awards are eligible to enter again. ArtPrize will continue to feature the work of past Grand Prize winners at the ArtPrize Hub or other locations.

Second, there is now a cap of two entries from each venue that can advance to the public vote Final 20. This rule ensures that a greater diversity of venues will be represented. Additionally, when each category juror selects five nominees, no more than two will come from a single venue.

ArtPrize Preview Week: September 14 - 20

The week leading up to ArtPrize 2016 will be an official Preview Week.

Preview Week will be structured around the hundreds of events, receptions, exhibition openings, galas and gatherings that happen across the ArtPrize district in the week before voting officially opens.

Starting on Wednesday, September 14, those in Grand Rapids will get a first look at installations in progress around downtown, while supporting ArtPrize and its partners. Museum venues can charge regular admission during Preview Week and offer special perks to ArtPrize badge holders like Artists, Venues, Sponsors, Members and Volunteers.

“Venues charge no admission fees during ArtPrize, and it is our hope that visitors and residents alike will be excited to support these institutional partners while enjoying a sneak peek a week before voting officially opens,” said ArtPrize Exhibitions Manager Katie Moore.

Grants and Pitch Night Expansion

ArtPrize grants continue to grow through the recently announced ArtPrize Featured Public Projects program, the ArtPrize Pitch Night program -- expanding this year to Louisville, Kentucky and returning to Minneapolis, Indianapolis and Durham -- and a new partnership with Independent Curators International that will support the second year of the ArtPrize Fellowship for Emerging Curators. These three programs will grant $120,000 directly to artists and curators.

New Director Added to ArtPrize Board

In February, the ArtPrize Board of Directors approved the appointment of Leslie Koch to the board. As the President and CEO at Trust for Governors Island, Ms. Koch led the transformation of Governors Island from an abandoned military base off the tip of Manhattan into a vibrant public space which attracts hundreds of thousands of seasonal visitors with a diverse array of arts and cultural programs.

“Leslie brings a unique skill set to the ArtPrize Board of Directors. 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,” said Rick DeVos, ArtPrize Founder and Board Chairman.

 

ArtPrize will return to downtown Grand Rapids from September 21 to October 9, 2016. Venue registration for the eighth annual event is now open through April 7, and artist registration from April 18-June 2.

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