GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — ArtPrize 2024 is just a few days away and artists are putting the final touches on their entries before the competition kicks off on Friday.
And for the first time in the competition's 15-year history, a new area will feature ArtPrize exhibits.
Grand Rapids Uptown District is officially inside the ArtPrize boundaries this year.
Uptown consists of four business districts and five neighborhoods. Last year, there was a pilot program with a few businesses hosting artists.
This year, 25 locations in Uptown are hosting entries for the competition.
Visitors can now walk along Wealthy Street and see some beautiful pieces. One such entry you can spot is the colorful 'Michigan Sunset' mural by Cameron Klingenberg, displayed on the side of Paddle North.
"Cam was an artist that wanted to do a mural on the side of the building, and it worked out where we could line it up with the Art Prize event that was going on," said Isaac Mogck, the Michigan Sales Director for Paddle North.
"It was really cool to take shape and take form. He worked really hard on that, and it turned out really amazing," he said. "It looks great as I drive up every day."
Ingrid Miller, Executive Director of Uptown Grand Rapids Inc., says the expansion of ArtPrize boundaries was two years in the making.
"It's always been downtown focused. So, we are really excited about that collaboration and bringing that crowd of people to Uptown to discover it, discover our small businesses and our public art," said Miller. "We want to show people what Grand Rapids has to offer, and Uptown has a lot of that."
To celebrate their inclusion into ArtPrize, Uptown Grand Rapids Inc. is hosting an Artist Reception on Sunday at Brewery Vivant from 1 to 4 p.m.
"We can't wait to see the numbers come back and hear feedback from our businesses and our neighbors about the impact it made," she said.
ArtPrize runs from this Friday, September 13 to 28. You can find a guide to all things ArtPrize on our website here.