ArtPrize Announces Voting System Change as Entries Surge

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The number of artists registered to compete in ArtPrize this year is back to pre-pandemic levels and there are more venues than in the past seven years, the competition’s director said.

With registration now closed for the Grand Rapids Art Show, 1,644 artists have signed up to exhibit their work through 1,152 submissions. More than 180 venues have applied to host the works.

Catlin Whitington, ArtPrize’s executive director, said the increase was significant.

“Last year we had about 140 venues and about 900 artists showing 700 works, which is a significant increase from what we’ve seen so far. I think we’re seeing almost an 80 percent increase in artists and a 30 to 40 percent increase in venues,” Whitington said.

The increase is due to several factors, Whitington said, citing last year’s success.

“We had a good year last year, and I think people really realized that ArtPrize was recovering and kind of getting back to some of its roots,” he said.

He also praised ArtPrize’s awareness-raising efforts.

“We’ve really spent the last year amplifying… the kind of mission and the value proposition for artists, and trying to really get venues here in town to understand what it means to be a part of ArtPrize and what the value is in being a part of that,” Whitington said.

He believes that “intentional and direct outreach” to colleges and universities has attracted a significant number of young artists.

“The demographics of artists who are showing their work have started to stabilize. In the past, we’ve definitely seen older artists get the most recognition. I think there are a lot more emerging and mid-career artists who are making really good work and are coming out and showing it,” Whitington said.

All these artists mean that the competition will be tough. The same amount of prize money as last year, around $400,000, will be awarded.

“I think the competition is going to be very strong. Given the quality of work that I see, I think there will be a lot of friendly competition around this project,” he said.

He said the process of handing out some $200,000 in grants to support artists reflected that level of competition.

ArtPrize is changing the way the voting process works this year, eliminating the “finalists” round and allowing viewers to vote on all artists’ works over the course of 16 days.

“I think it’s also going to change the dynamics of how the public, particularly on the public voting side, engages with artists because there’s going to be more work in competition for a longer period of time and I think… we’ll definitely see changes throughout the event in terms of where the public votes and where people go.”

With more artists and more venues, Whitington expects more people to come and enjoy ArtPrize.

“We certainly hope and expect more visitors,” he said.

This is the 15th edition of ArtPrize, which will take place from September 13 to 28 this year. To learn more about the event, visit the ArtPize Website.