GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — 2020 is almost over, and ArtPrize has an exciting announcement for the new year: ArtPrize is back.
After being canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, the famous art competition is expected to return in 2021. ArtPrize announced Thursday that it will return to Grand Rapids from Sept. 16 – Oct. 3.
“We can’t thank you enough for your patience, support and understanding as we all navigated through an unexpected and challenging year,” a release reads. “We missed hosting visitors and celebrating thousands of artists, venues and creatives that breathe life into this vibrant event and competition.”
Artist and venue registration dates are coming soon, along with details on $450,000 in grants and prizes.
“We look forward with anticipation into the New Year and the opportunity to work with our community to create the best ArtPrize yet—one that will inspire hope and excitement in Grand Rapids and beyond, bringing us together in new ways, celebrating artists and art lovers, and fostering a sense of openness and healing,” the release reads.
The CEO of Experience GR, Doug Smalls told us that this announcement could not have came at a better time.
"This is a really big deal, the announcement that they are looking to bring back some form of ArtPrize couldn't come as better news because we are struggling I'm not going to sugar coat it, the hotel industry is 35 percentage points behind where we were a year ago, revenues are off by 60 %," Smalls said. "The hotels are hurting which means visitors aren't coming which means our restaurants and attractions and or retail is hurting. So to have something to look forward to in the fall is music to our ears economically and for brand recognition."
Grand Rapids Mayor, Rosalynn Bliss, also sending us a statement expressing her excitement.
ArtPrize put Grand Rapids on the map back in 2009, both attracting artist with $500,000 in prize money and the public as they got to both choose the winners by voting for their favorites, as well as learn about art.
In 2017 the competition brought up to 33 million dollars in revenue to the local economy.
Its estimated to bring around 500 million people to the city according to Experience GR.
"We are still the premiere destination that we were before the pandemic, one that was thriving and being recognized nationally and globally as an up and coming tourist destination," Smalls said. "We hope that something like ArtPrize if it comes into fruition this fall will solidify that not only are we still that, but we are coming out of this pandemic full speed and ready to go."
But there is still a high level of uncertainty surrounding this event.
As a nation experts are hoping that by the end of the year vaccines will be widespread and ultimately have the pandemic under control, but without a vaccine mandate many people could choose to not participate in vaccinations and those vaccinated can still carry and transmit the disease, even if they can no longer get sick.
As of Dec 31. The United States has topped over 20-Million cases and 300-Thousand deaths from the Covid-19 virus.
And not knowing what will happen with vaccinations, travel, and capacity restrictions has some of the ArtPrize organizers just practicing patience.
"We can control the message, what we can't control is what visitors can come to our community, that's left up to our administration. We are at the mercy of executive orders when it comes to business and visitors,: Smalls said.
This year will be ArtPrize's 11th city-wide exhibition.
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