ArtPrize Tonight to Bring Screen, Stage and Discussion to ArtPrize

ArtPrize is bringing a variety of programming to ArtPrize Seven this fall with ArtPrize Tonight.

ArtPrize Tonight is 19 days of evening entertainment in three categories: On Screen, On Stage and Critical Discourse.

ArtPrize has been a huge event since the first year, but music and film have not always been a large part of ArtPrize. ArtPrize Tonight will help to make both a bigger part of ArtPrize this year and in the future.

“ArtPrize Tonight exists to shine a spotlight on the many entertainment options available to ArtPrize visitors throughout the 19 days,” noted Todd Herring, ArtPrize Director of Creative and Communications. “The sheer scope of evening events this year is like nothing we’ve seen before.”

On Stage

ArtPrize On Stage offers live-music, theater and comedy performances at multiple venues. Shows include Circle Theatre’s “Women Of Rock,” Grand Rapids Symphony’s “Love, Lust & Rock 'n' Roll,” and a Michigan House Showcase at the Pyramid Scheme.

St. Cecilia Music Center is curating a number of busking sites around the city throughout the first two weeks of ArtPrize, with locations including the Gillett Bridge, Lyon’s Square and the Women’s City Club. St. Cecilia’s is also hosting their own independently organized competition during ArtPrize, awarding a $5,000 to the top public vote-getting musical entries, and an additional $5,000 by expert jury. St. Cecilia’s will also host a concert on Sunday October 4th, featuring Josh Davis, a finalist on NBC’s The Voice.

The Eddy will also be a part of ArtPrize On Stage. The new pop-up riverfront venue located on Monroe Avenue just north of I-196 is a 4,000 capacity temporary tent venue which will feature 11 days of performances. Grammy-nominated folk-rock band The Avett Brothers will headline the venue. Other programming includes “1964 the Tribute” which is a Beatles tribute band and a variety of Michigan artists.

On Screen

ArtPrize On Screen debuts with Waterfront Film Festival hosting evening and daytime screenings and late night parties. Programming will include a total of 22 films, many with Michigan ties, including six feature narratives, five documentaries and ten short films.

"The Waterfront Film organization is dedicated to the collaboration with ArtPrize to raise the profile of the cinematic arts in Grand Rapids during ArtPrize,” explained Hopwood DePree, Waterfront Film Festival Founder. “Both are established non-profit organizations focused on bringing art, culture and education to Michigan so it makes a lot of sense to combine efforts on this venture. We aim to expand the film program in the coming years and look forward to a longterm partnership."

50 seats will be available to the general public free of charge, on a first come first served basis, for each film screening. Tickets will also be available for purchase.

Critical Discourse

Critical Discourse is a 6-day series of panel discussions about art. The format is similar to 2014, as the ArtPrize HUB Theatre becomes a TV studio-style atmosphere with a live audience.

September 28: The Critical Discourse event series starts with the Jurors' Shortlist event, which will air on WOOD TV8. During this event, each of the ArtPrize Seven category jurors will reveal and discuss their list of five nominees, a total of 20 entries and 5 venues, which will be in the running for their category awards: 2-D, 3-D, Time-Based, Installation and Outstanding Venue. The 20 nominated entries will also be eligible to receive the $200,000 Juried Grand Prize.

September 29: Unapologetically Midwest: Artist-Run Art Spaces will feature several Midwestern artists who built new art spaces and exhibition programs within their own communities. Speakers for the panel include Robert Elmes, Director of Galapagos Art Space, Detroit; Jehra Patrick, Program Director for mnartists.org, founder of Waiting Room, Minneapolis; Mike Wolf, member of the DAAC, Grand Rapids; Alexander Herzog, co-director of The Suburban, Milwaukee.

October 1: Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at the Pantone Color Institute, will present Future Color/Design Trends: Innovation and Impact. Eiseman will explore what is driving the most relevant color and design trends of today, where they originate, where they are headed, and what she views to be the most meaningful color palette and style indicators.

October 2: Reflecting the Times: Art & Activism will address contemporary social justice efforts such as #BlackLivesMatter, and how art is situated at the forefront of these movements. Speakers for this panel include Taylor Aldridge, co-founder of ARTS.BLACK, Detroit; Jessica Lynn, co-founder of ARTS.BLACK, New York; Suhaly Bautista-Carolina, Engagement & Education Manager at Creative Time, New York; and Dread Scott, artist, New York.

October 5 - 6: Why These Finalists? will feature a panel of arts experts to examine side-by-side both the jury’s shortlisted entries and the public’s favorite pieces. Both evenings will be broadcast live on WOOD TV8. Panelists for Part 1 on October 5 include Jillian Steinhauer, senior editor of Hyperallergic, New York; Lisa Freiman, director of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Institute for Contemporary Art, Richmond; Anila Quayyum Agha, artist and 2014 ArtPrize winner, Indianapolis. Panelists for Part 2 on October 6 include Sarah Schultz, independent curator, New York; Crimson Rose, co-founder of Burning Man, the Black Rock Arts Foundation and Burning Man Project, San Francisco; Edward Winkleman, writer and gallery owner, New York.

ArtPrize Seven will take place in Grand Rapids, Michigan from September 23 - October 11 and will feature 1,550 artist entries at 162 venues.