GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The best and most beautiful from this year's ArtPrize — in the eyes of Grand Rapids — are becoming clear after the festival revealed its top 25 most popular entries Friday.
The weeklong selection process brought in around 31,500 votes, according to ArtPrize Executive Director Catlin Whitington.
While the top 25 remain eligible for all three prizes ($125,000, $50,000, and $25,000, respectively), an additional 25 entries from five different categories (2D, 3D, installation, digital, and time based) are also able to capture second and third place.
"The amazing thing about democracy is that it's participatory," Whitington said.
This year, Whitington — in collaboration with the city of Grand Rapids, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI), and the Kendall College of Art and Design — revived the public vote grand prize format and plumped the purses for the festival's top artists.
“It feels like more of a community thing rather than an event that's happening in your city," said Richard App, the retail, retention and attraction specialist for the city of Grand Rapids.
In its first weekend, ArtPrize brought more than 387,000 people downtown — more than half the crowd from the full length of last year's festival.
“You know real when you see it," App said. "That's what's happening this year.”
The Public Vote Grand Prize winner — among other awards — will be announced Friday, Sept. 29.
Watch the full announcement here:
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