ArtPrize Announces Events, Grants and Changes for 2015

Today, ArtPrize made several announcements about changes and growth planned for 2015 including new opportunities for curators, an expansion of ArtPrize Pitch Night, more grant money and a new showcase event called ArtPrize Tonight.

ArtPrize 2015 will continue to feature two grand prizes of $200,000 each, one decided by public vote and the other decided by a panel of three jurors. There will also continue to be eight artist awards based on category, half decided by the public and half by expert jury.

The category awards will account for a combined $100,000, or $12,500 each, with the additional Outstanding Venue Juried Award, also worth $12,500.

A Total of $220,000 in Grants

Fellowship for Emerging Curators

This fellowship presents an opportunity for emerging curators to gain experience by working with a curator at an established ArtPrize institutional venue. The Fellows will work alongside each institution’s curatorial department as they create their ArtPrize exhibit, as well as curate and produce their own ArtPrize exhibition at a separate location under the mentorship.
The partners participating in this pilot year of the Fellowship for Emerging Curators include the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Kendall College of Art & Design, SiTE:LAB and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts.
The application period for curatorial fellows opens today and will continue through April 6.

ArtPrize Education Days

$41,000 will be given to ArtPrize partners to create innovative programming with their artists for visiting students. ArtPrize will also award $9,000 in transportation grants to help offset field trip costs and ensure that school groups are able to visit ArtPrize.

Artist Seed Grants

This program launched in 2014 with the support of the Frey Foundation and awards 25 artists a grant of $2,000 each. This program will continue in 2015, funding ArtPrize entries from artists that demonstrate both financial need and artistic merit.

ArtPrize Pitch Night

This program is now in its third year and will expand to include events in Minneapolis; Indianapolis; Durham, N.C.; and New York. Each event will elicit work from five artists who will have five minutes to sell their public art concept to a panel of art experts. The winner will be awarded a $5,000 grant, and a spot at a prominent venue in downtown Grand Rapids.

Venue Grants

Venues are encouraged to apply for the opportunity to receive grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 each, for a total of $30,000. Starting today, venues can register to participate in ArtPrize 2015. The deadline for Venue Grant applications is April 6, prior to the April 9 Venue Registration deadline.

“As ArtPrize matures as an organization, we continue to seek out ways to broaden the support we give to venues, artists and educators,” said Christian Gaines, ArtPrize's executive director. “New and updated ArtPrize grant programs allow us to support as well as reward the innovators that make ArtPrize a success each year.”

ArtPrize Tonight

ArtPrize Tonight will introduce expanded evening programming and will showcase events in three categories -- Critical Discourse, ArtPrize On Screen and ArtPrize On Stage -- intended to highlight creative expression through music, performance, video and film.
Critical Discourse features conversations in contemporary art and design.
ArtPrize On Screen presents a series of film, video and interactive screenings at various venues across downtown Grand Rapids.
ArtPrize On Stage brings live performance to the ArtPrize night scene. Curated by St. Cecilia Music Center, the performances will take place at multiple venues across downtown Grand Rapids, including Rosa Parks Circle.

“Evenings at ArtPrize have been a staple of the ArtPrize experience,” said Todd Herring, ArtPrize creative director. “The city fills with parties and nightlife while art lovers enjoy outdoor art and venues open late.

"The ArtPrize Tonight series capitalizes on this energy, highlighting the music, performance, video and film that bring vibrancy to the ArtPrize experience.”

ArtPrize 2015 will take place from September 23 to October 11 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Venue registration is currently open.