ArtPrize is Coming Back in 2021
We’ve don't have a lot of information on this yet, but ArtPrize is making a comeback to West Michigan.
Originally created in 2009, the art competition was a yearly staple in the Grand Rapids area until 2018 when organizers announced it would be switching to a biannual event. Prior to that announcement Art Prize was considered the largest contemporary art exhibit and contest in the United States.
In 2019, they tried a scaled-back version of the event called Project 1, which still had plenty of art associated with the series, and brought people into the Grand Rapids area, but wasn’t near the crowd attractor that ArtPrize had been in the years before.
Well, today we noticed that Artprize.org has been changed to artprizeisback.com which would lead us to believe that in 2021organizers are planning to bring back the art competition, which after the year that was 2020, we could use some events to get out and enjoy, especially since Art Prize could be enjoyed "socially distanced" as well.
In a release from ArtPrize, organizers said,
We can't thank you enough for your patience, support and understanding as we all navigated through an unexpected and challenging year. We missed hosting visitors and celebrating thousands of artists, venues and creatives that breathe life into this vibrant event and competition.
The release went on to say what we already knew by looking at the website - ARTPRIZE IS BACK. The competition will return to Grand Rapids September 16 - October 3, 2021.
Artist and venue registration dates are coming soon.