ArtPrize, World's Largest Art Competition, Underway In Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WWJ/AP) - The fifth installment of the annual ArtPrize international art competition is getting underway in Grand Rapids. Hundreds of entries from 45 states and 47 countries are in the running.
"We'll have over 1,500 exhibits and about 1,800 artists represented - a little over - at about 160 venues," said ArtPrize Executive Director Christian Gaines, who spoke to WWJ's Roberta Jasina.
Artists compete for a combination of public votes and juried prizes to win part of a $560,000 prize pool.
"The point of our prize is to really create a grand conversation around art," Gaines said. "It's to encourage people to think about art, to consider it. And I think, also, the point of ArtPrize is to celebrate and honor and adore artists for the work that they do and the courage that it takes to become an artist and to exhibit your work."
See a photo gallery of some of the entries HERE.
The public participates in two rounds of voting to distribute the prize money. First place receives $200,000, second $75,000, third $50,000, and fourth through 10th get $5,000 each. In addition, professional jurors will distribute $200,000 in prize money to artists at their discretion.
Winners will be announced October 4th.
