ArtPrize is a yearly event that brings thousands of visitors to the downtown Grand Rapids area each fall. The event has changed throughout the past 15 years it's been around, but it typically entails hundreds of art entries that are displayed downtown. Some are inside businesses, some are out on the street, and some are a bit hidden. There is a contest element to the event, with public vote winners as well as juried vote winners. I've always taken a very laid back approach to ArtPrize, preferring to just stumble upon installations as I make my normal way around the city. But there are venues that have large concentrations of art, including DeVos Place, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, and more. I think it would be impossible to see every single piece! ArtPrize maps are not really a "thing" - there was a web based map in 2024 but I found it super clunky and not at all user friendly. The event brings tons of people into the downtown area, making it really congested with traffic as well as a lot of foot traffic - I typically try to avoid driving downtown during this time. Overall it's an interesting event that has a lot of discourse around it (both positive and negative), but something to check out if you're interested in art. read more

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Had to walk a lot to see very little. Hadn't been to artprize in years and its definitely not what it was in its early years. Fun going downtown though and got some exercise! read more

Not like it use to be...when it first started..it was phenomenal. Art was everywhere. Now...you can hardly see the art.

ArtPrize--or BoobyPrize??? Navigating around ArtPrize is an Absolute nightmare. We wanted to take Our bikes around downtown and were told- no bikes allowed- seriously? We rode bikes all Over DC and Loved it! The QR system was an epic fail. The "interactive link" only linked me To the personal information of the creator Of said failed map. We wandered looking around for the art. No physical maps were available -- the concierge at the Amway Hotel didn't even have a map- nor did the assistant at the Devoss center. I never saw an Art Prize volunteer the entire day. If you're having out-of-area visitors it would be nice to offer some guidance: such as Where to park, information that you can only use city bikes. It would have been nice to click on the QR codes and have more information about the piece or the artist available. Scanning the QR did not work for voting, even after I registered. It kept saying it needed to change my locations setting.( which was set correctly ) And for an art exhibit, the signage stunk!!! Do you want people to actually read what you wrote? Then how about printing in a decent size font and posting the information higher than 2 feet off the ground! Ugh. Fun Day? More like frustrating. read more

ArtPrize - Festivals Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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My first art prize, and I must say it's probably one of the most exciting art festivals I've been too. Using a multitude of venues to help promote the city and economy. A lot of these artists have created masterpieces, and it was such an amazing opportunity to see them in the street and read about the inspirations behind the work. read more

ArtPrize - Festivals Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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I just never seen anything like it good art if you can find it. Should've been, a scavenger hunt literally no art tents, booths just find the art around the city. read more

This event was beyond disappointing! Absolutely NOTHING on the scale when the Amway Brothers sponsored it. Minimal art on the street! Art was normal and never beyond that. It was so much better in prior years and so much more fun to view large, interesting art OUTSIDE throughout the city. Some of it in the past truly was out of the box! Extremely creative. Had to go in buildings to view art. It wasn't worth the trip. If you have done this event prior to Covid when sponsored on a much larger platform, you know what I am talking about. Janet C. read more

Ambivalence has taken over me since the winner of the public vote was announced this past Fall. Just to be clear: Before this announcement, I was sold hook, line, and sinker for ArtPrize. I traveled here from New Mexico to participate as an artist and spent almost a month here. While most AP artists glued themselves to their artwork at their venue pitching why patrons should vote for their piece, I felt a need to get out and see all the art entries, even during Round 1. Sure, I spent some time at my venue and answered some questions from people, but I didn't want to get in the way of them fully experiencing my piece. I was there if they had questions, but I didn't want to be in their faces too much. Seriously, did all of that pitching of one's work really help them to gain more votes or did viewers feel put off by it? I don't know. We will have to ask those who really know how the competition works and what makes one entry more successful than others. Of course, the truly stellar pieces will stand out no matter what, hopefully, more so in the juried round. To be honest, I hadn't entered the competition to win. I entered to be a part of this worldwide competition. We had more than 1,300 artists' works on display. Quite a few were worthy of the kudos they received from the jurors and many public viewers. If I'm inspired to participate again, I will not hesitate. Even if I'm not a participating artist in the future, I would go again. Yes, it's distressing to know that something like the Lincoln penny portrait won a serious amount of money, but I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. Seeing new art from around the world and meeting many of the artists who created it is motivation enough. Sure one has to wade through not so great art, but you will discover the truly lovely gems which will warm your heart and nurture your spirit. read more

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I have attended for about 15 years, and I must say, this year was the most disappointing. Fewer exhibits, far too spread out, some not worthy of being shown, poor map, and a true hassle voting, made for a not so enjoyable experience. How and why these choose placements for some of the art work is puzzling. we found the best one far away from the main part and only came upon it when someone recommended we go out of our way to see it. read more

I know Art Prize suffered during Covid, but the quality and quantity this year is really disappointing. When 2 of the exhibits in Devos are of a dilapidated cardboard box and 3 tires spray-painted white, something is wrong. Both of these were supposed to have some sort of "deep meaning." Phooey. I have a very open mind about art, but these items were absurd. They belong in a trash bin. If this is the level Art Prize is stooping to, then maybe it's run its course. read more

Not only is this my favorite Grand Rapids event, it is by far my favorite event in the state of Michigan. Every year I look forward to Art Prize. I load the Art Prize app on my phone and I'm off for a great adventure. The entire downtown area is literally turned into a giant art show. Museums, convention centers, churches, restaurants, just about every type of building you can imagine has some type of art on display during Art Prize. Can you see it all in one day - heck no. You would be hard pressed to see it all in one week, but please don't let that stop you from checking it out. They have a HUB, where you can go to get maps, help with the app if you're not tech savvy, and the overall down-low on the hot spots. If you're limited on time just pick one of the larger venues. You can vote as many times as you would like, once you have registered. Hint, you cannot fully register until you are in the Grand Rapids area, which keeps voting fair and legit. About half way through the event the top 20 pieces are announced, and voting continues but for those top 20 pieces only. After that, you can only vote for one in each category. I like to go the day before and the day of the top 20 being announced. So you can get in on the general voting and the top 20 voting! If you live any where close to Grand Rapids, do yourself a favor and go check out Art Prize. You will be amazed at the wonderful creativity on display!! read more

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ArtPrize! So cool. Basically downtown Grand Rapids is turned into a gigantic art museum for a few weeks in the fall. Pretty much everywhere you go, there is art in front of you or right around the corner. Some of the installations are housed inside museums, colleges, libraries or churches. Other things are right out in the streets. And more can be found in coffeehouses, breweries, and even abandoned houses around town. The art ranges homemade craftiness to amazing installations worthy of a major art museum. Grab a map from someone in an "ask me" vest and get exploring. Or get the app. A lot can be seen on foot, but a bike might be a fun way to get around too! There is sooooo much to see - don't expect to do it all in one day. This year is the seventh ArtPrize. Hope it continues for a long time to come. read more

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Neat art festival with a variety of pieces throughout the city of Grand Rapids! Free and accessible to all. Great to walk around town and explore new places and art. read more

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The reason i enjoy living in grand rapids was so that i could go to Art Prize with my family.Last year we enjoyed it so much that we just had to come back once again.As we entered the downtown area everything was filled with art me and my family were so amazed by the new art that was presented and could not stop awing as we went by throughout the art. After going to Art Prize for a whole day i can say this is a must go to if your in Grand Rapids Its family friendly,fun for the kids,and there's enough art to last for hours so your never bored,always amazed by what you see.If you want to take someone out on a date this is also a must because your always walking to different arts which can make for a pretty good date. Why should you trust me? Well because i go to highschool and am taking an 2D art class.Also because people like my friends are always telling me how trustworthy a person i am.And also because the whole reason i even made an account on yelp was so that i could tell everyone how good it is and how fun it is to go with friends,or family. read more

ArtPrize is awesome! You are super crazy if you don't go and take it in! It runs for several weeks in the fall and covers many venues, indoor and outdoor, throughout downtown Grand Rapids. So many different art mediums displayed, their is sure to be something to knock your socks off. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I have gone for the last 3 years and still get confused about what is where and the android app was pitiful . We missed several things that we wanted to see. Next year we will do an overnight because there are entries that look best at night and we want to have time to see it all...and eat at some of the great spots downtown! read more

Artprize is not the phenomenon it once was. In fact, I think the first sign of its eventual slide into mediocrity was the elimination of the thumb-down vote. My friend and I often joke that all it takes to win Artprize is size, a modicum of skill, and a religious portrayal (but, only if it's Jesus!) Any works that are genuinely compelling are ignored in favor of chainsaw-art, or well-organized piles of trash. Look for our entry next year, a 20 foot margarine carving of Jesus waving the American flag. read more

If you like art. If you enjoy a vibrant metro scene, you will enjoy Art Prize. We have only missed once in nine years. Go on line and google it. There is too much to review in the space allowed. DON'T MISS THIS EVENT! read more

Artprize is like turning your whole house, or in this case, whole city into one giant art show! The best part of the show is discovering the locations of a variety of gems - artists displays in coffee shops, schools, restaurants, places of business, large venues like the Van Andel arena & Frederik Meijer Gardens, the streets and bridges and of course museums. In recent years, performance artists have added their blend of voices and instruments to the show. It's a delight I look forward to attending and photographing year after year. If you're in Grand Rapids MI during the fall, the show runs this year (2016) from late September to first part of October. The most interesting part of the show is that the public participates directly by voting on their favorite pieces adding a little bit of Reality Show TV feel to the event. When the top 20 displays are chosen through the vote, things become really serious - in terms of some great prize money to be won by the artists creating the most popular pieces. read more

ArtPrize - Festivals Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Such a unique event filled with all different kinds of amazing art. Just wander around downtown and head into any establishment with a "venue" placard out front. Then vote on the app if you like what you see. Lots of great places to eat, food trucks and just a fun scene in general. Only minor complaint is that it feels a bit chaotic and it would be a big help if there was a physical map handy that listed the venues and suggested routes. We don't know our way around Grand Rapids so what we saw was hit or miss. Go if you have the chance!! read more

I recently moved back to Michigan from out of state and my sisters invited me to attend Art Prize with them since they've enjoyed it so much in past years. My tastes in art are very limited, but I went anyways not really anticipating to enjoy the experience and was pleasantly surprised. Yep, there was very little of the art that I personally would like to own, but there were tons of exhibits that although not being something I'd ever want to own were interesting and got me thinking about not only the completed art, but also wondering about how many hours the artist had put into their creations and what their inspiration was when it was created. I would guess that last sentence probably describes a couple of the goals of the creators of Art Prize and if so then they succeeded in what they wanted to achieve. I only explored a few of the venues downtown in the general area of the Gerald Ford museum so I know I only saw a small fraction of what was available and look forward to returning in coming years to spend considerably more time exploring and learning. I'd heard from several people that this years Art Prize was not as impressive as other years events. If that's the case I look forward to really being wowed in coming years since I thought this years was such an enjoyable experience. Check it out and I'm sure you will enjoy it too! read more