GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — ArtPrize 2024 is entering its final weekend, with the closing ceremony taking place from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday outside of Grand Rapids' historic Woodbridge N Ferris Building at 17 Pearl St. NW.
Organizers said they believe this year's edition exceeded the 700,000 visitors to ArtPrize 2023.
Voting numbers also increased this year. Organizers said this year's total votes were tallied at more than 93,000, whereas in 2023, 55,000 votes were cast.
"I think the change that we implemented this year of keeping all the artists in and not doing a second round of voting and just keeping the voting going all the time, the whole time, for all the artists, really made a difference with audience engagement," said Catlin Whitington, the executive director for ArtPrize.
Whitington said the event featured pieces from around 1,000 artists from 42 countries and 35 states. The artwork was displayed across 170 venues.
ArtPrize 2024 also marked the first edition to include five official ArtPrize "districts."
"The intention there was to really continue to draw people out into all five of the districts, including the Center City, but East Side, West Side, North Side, South Side," said Whitington. "By really highlighting the artists within each of those districts that have been getting recognition continue to draw people into the districts and engage people throughout ArtPrize as a whole."
Neighborhoods across Grand Rapids looked to see visitors explore their unique features.
The Stockbridge Business Association printed new visitor maps in time for ArtPrize, hoping to draw people to the more than a dozen venues along Bridge Street.
Venues were seen in Uptown for the first time, with 25 in the area.
"We've always loved Grand Rapids. It's a beautiful venue, and it's very unique. You're not going to find this just about anywhere else in the country," said Ronald Haladyna who was looking at pieces inside the DeVos Place after driving from Big Rapids.
13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke with many people who came out to visit ArtPrize before its closing, with numerous school groups going through the various venues.
The closing ceremony will see the return of David, the 23-foot-tall illuminated marionette who climbed the Amway Grand Plaza during the opening celebration.
David's performance will be featured alongside several acrobats.
The Grand Prize winner for the public and jury votes will be announced at the closing ceremony, along with the winners of the various categories.
Organizers said more than $400,000 worth of prizes will be awarded.