Frequently asked questions
Most asked
When will registration for ArtPrize 2010 begin?
In 2010, venue registration, artist registration and matching will be broken out into separate time periods.
- Venue Registration for 2010
Open: Monday, March 15 (Noon EDT)
Close: Thursday April 15 (5:00PM EDT)
- Artist Registration for 2010
Open: Monday, April 19 (Noon EDT)
Close: Thursday, May 27 (5:00PM EDT)
- Artist/Venue Matching Period for 2010
Open: Tuesday, June 1 (Noon EDT)
Close: Thursday, July 1 (5:00PM EDT)
What are Exhibition Centers?
Exhibition Centers are an addition to ArtPrize 2010 and will be announced later in the Spring.
Learn more
How do I compete in ArtPrize?
Competing in ArtPrize is a two step process. First, an artist registers by filling out their profile, submitting a work for the competition and paying the registration fee.
Step two is for the artist to secure a space within an official ArtPrize venue. Find a venue and click "Connect with venue" on artprize.org. The venue will be notified of your request. If it looks like your work is a good fit for the venue, you will complete a Hosting Agreement with the venue host. What's this?
When the agreement is complete, your work is entered into the ArtPrize competition.
How do I secure a venue?
On artprize.org:
- Find a venue (or several) you want to host your work
- On the venue's page, click "Connect with venue"
- The venue is notified you are interested in a connection
- The venue will look at your profile on artprize.org
At this point, a venue will make a decision whether or not to host your work. (It may take a while for certain venues to decide.)
If the venue is interested:
- The venue will contact you regarding a Hosting Agreement through the contact information you entered on the website - What's this?
- If you both agree on the terms of your Hosting Agreement, the venue will "secure" you as an artist
- You will receive an email asking to confirm that this is the venue you want
- You will confirm by clicking "Secure venue" (Note: this option appears only AFTER a venue decides to host your work)
- Clicking "Secure venue" means you are entering into the contract drawn up by you and the venue in the Hosting Agreement
- Once you secure a venue, you are officially entered to participate in ArtPrize
IMPORTANT: Some venues may request your work without waiting for you to try and connect with them. In that case it's up to you, the artist, to decide if you want to show work in that venue. Start negotiating a Hosting Agreement by contacting that venue through the contact information the venue provided.
What's this?
What is the Hosting Agreement?
The Hosting Agreement is vital for artist and venue to know exactly what to expect from each other during the event. Learn more about it, or download the template here.
How will venues pick artists?
Some larger venues will be curated by institutions or galleries with a strong curatorial background. Other venues may be curated by hosts with little to no curatorial background. Depending on the venue, the selection process will be formal or informal. The venue may invite artists or rely solely on the list of artists on artprize.org.
Can I get a venue that's not on artprize.org?
If you know of a space within the ArtPrize Boundary and want to contact the owner about becoming a venue to show your work, you may. Remember, that venue must register on artprize.org. If the venue does not register on artprize.org, it will not officially participate in the competition.
How do I host a venue?
First, make sure you have read the basics about applying and complete your venue profile.
If you want to:
- Open your property to become a venue but don't want to manage it
- Manage a venue but don't own property downtown
Contact Dave DeBoer
What is the deal on venues owned by City of Grand Rapids?
Parks, bridges, streets, sidewalks and certain buildings belong to The City of Grand Rapids. ArtPrize has been working with the City Manager to open venues for the event. Some current ArtPrize venues are owned by the city and will be hosted by a third party (for instance The Old Federal Building will be managed and curated by the UICA).
If there is a specific city property where you would like to exhibit that is not yet an official ArtPrize venue, contact Dave DeBoer.
Does ArtPrize believe a public vote will result in the "best" work winning?
Frankly, who knows? A public vote on art has never happened on this scale. Our motivation is to give the public a tangible reason to engage. We believe if the public has the power to decide which piece wins the award, the public will be far more motivated to engage in a dialogue about art and more carefully form individual opinions.
Who is awarding the prizes?
All prizes are being awarded by the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation, a Michigan nonprofit corporation. Information regarding the foundation is available at www.guidestar.org.
How many prizes are there?
Beside the $250,000 top prize, 2nd place will win $100,000, 3rd place $50,000 and the other seven finalists will each receive $7,000.
What’s the second largest art prize?
The Jack Wolgin International Competition in the Arts hosted by Temple University gives away $150,000 in a competition that’s invitation only.
When is ArtPrize?
September 23 – October 10, 2009 in Grand Rapids, Michigan USA.
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Artists
Can any artist apply?
See artist eligibility.
How is "work" defined? What can I submit?
A "work," as far as ArtPrize is concerned, is the complete entry of a single artist or group of collaborators. The work is what the public will vote on as a single unit. It could be a series, an installation with multiple components, or any other output that can be exhibited in the space agreed upon with the hosting venue. The size of a work depends on the amount of space secured in a venue. Works cannot exist in more than one venue.
When filling out your artist profile, think of it as an open-ended proposal. Be sure to indicate how much space you'd like, and how much space you'll need at minimum. Note: Performance based work must be performed in the first week of the competition with an artifact of record on exhibit until the end of the event.
What if I haven’t finished the work I want to submit?
A proposal with a sketch of the work you plan to complete is sufficient for your profile. You may also submit pictures of a past work to give a general idea of the type of work you do, but make it clear in your Work Statement the pictures are of past works and not the actual proposed work.
How many pieces can I submit?
An artist may only enter one work. "Work" is the complete entry of a single artist or group of collaborators. The work is what the public will vote on as a single unit. That does not mean that it needs to be a single piece. It could be a series, an installation with multiple components, or any other output that can be exhibited in the space agreed upon with the hosting venue. Works cannot exist in more than one venue. The size of a work depends on the amount of space secured in a venue.
Can artists collaborate on a work?
Yes. However, each artist can only attach their name to one entry. So, if five artists collaborate on a work, that work counts as the one entry for all five artists. There is only one entry fee for the work.
How do I enter a work for the competition?
All submissions are completed online. Follow these steps in order:
- Sign up for an account on artprize.org
- Fill out your artist profile
- Fill out the form for work submission
- Upload an image of your work
Note: The image can be a sketch of a proposed work or image of a similar past work. It should be a JPEG file less than 3Mb in size.
When is the deadline for submission?
Midnight July 31, 2009, is the deadline for both artist and venue registration. This means that you must have a completed artist profile, info about your proposed work, and paid the registration fee before that time. Many venues will review submission before this time. Be sure to check with a specific venue you are interested in to find out if they have changed their submission deadline.
Is there a submission fee?
Yes, there is a $50 nonrefundable submission fee for each work entry.
Who from the venues will be choosing my work?
A substantial number of larger venues will be curated by institutions or galleries with a strong curatorial background. Other venues may be curated by hosts with little to no curatorial background. We see this as a way to help artists who are emerging to be discovered based on the personal preference of the venue hosts. Be sure to inquire about a venue host’s past curatorial experience if it concerns you.
Will you accept slides?
No. Only digital files will be accepted. You may convert your slide to a digital file at a local photo lab.
Are there limitations on size?
Size of the work is dependent on space available for the work. Each artist is responsible for securing space within an official ArtPrize venue. You can browse all available venues and contact venue hosts here on ArtPrize.org. It is between the artist and venue host to come to an agreement and reserve space for a work. All work eligible for the competition must be shown within an official ArtPrize venue.
Do I have to live in Grand Rapids to submit work?
No.
Do I have to travel to Grand Rapids to participate as an artist?
No, but the artist is responsible for the installation and removal of the work. If you ship work, make sure the venue host knows exactly what is expected for installation and removal.
Note: It is to an artist’s advantage to remain in Grand Rapids to discuss and win support of their work.
Is the artist responsible for shipping costs?
It is between the artist and venue to determine how shipping is paid for in the Hosting Agreement. What's this?
Is the artist responsible for insuring the work?
It is between the artist and venue to determine how insurance is covered, but we encourage venues to absorb the cost or ask for reimbursement from the artist. Read why.
Am I guaranteed a space to show work when I submit?
After you submit your work online, you are responsible for securing space within an official ArtPrize venue. You can browse all available venues and contact venue hosts here on ArtPrize.org. It is between the artist and venue host to come to an agreement and reserve space for a work. All work eligible for the competition must be shown within an official ArtPrize venue.
How will I know when my work is eligible for the ArtPrize?
When you reach an agreement with a venue host to reserve space for your work, the venue host must officially accept your work on artprize.org. At that point, your work is eligible to be in the competition and the space you’ve reserved within the venue is no longer available for other work.
How is the winner selected?
The single work that receives the most votes wins the $250,000 ArtPrize. Voters must physically register at the ArtPrize event for their votes to be counted.
Will there be finalists?
On October 1, 2009 the top ten finalists—based on number of votes—will be announced. Any participants not in the top ten will no longer be eligible to win the prize.
Are there other prizes?
Beside the $250,000 top prize, 2nd place will win $100,000, 3rd place $50,000 and the bottom seven finalists receive $7,000 each.
Will I have the opportunity to sell my work?
Artists may sell their work, but may not remove it from the venue until after October 10, 2009. ArtPrize plays no role in sales. All transactions are between the artist and the buyer.
If I win, what happens?
ArtPrize will reconfirm the first place winner’s eligibility and prize money will come from the Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation. The first place winner will be asked to transfer the winning work--or a work of comparable scale--over to ArtPrize to be added to a public art collection, for the benefit the public.
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Venues
What is a "venue?"
If you own a space within the ArtPrize boundary you may apply to be an ArtPrize venue. All venues are subject to inspection and approval after paying the registration fee. Only registered work shown in an official ArtPrize venue will be eligible for the prize.
Do venues provide insurance for artwork?
It is between the artist and venue to determine how insurance is covered, but we encourage venues to absorb the cost or ask for reimbursement from the artist. Read why.
Can I pick artists who are not on artprize.org?
You may contact artists you would like to show and encourage them to register on artprize.org. To enter the competition, they must register on artprize.org and sign a Hosting Agreement with you. What's this?
Can anybody host a venue?
ArtPrize is asking anybody within the ArtPrize boundary to open up their space to be a venue, or to volunteer to host a venue for somebody else. See the venue guidelines. If you have questions or problems with hosting a venue, please contact Dave DeBoer.
What kind of venues does ArtPrize want?
Galleries, storefronts, offices, lobbies, parks, courtyards—most anywhere within the ArtPrize boundary that fit our basic guidelines.
How do I apply to host a venue?
All venue applications are submitted online. Sign up for an account here on ArtPrize.org and fill out the application form. Your venue will be subject to inspection and approval after paying the registration fee.
Does ArtPrize pick the art that will show in my venue?
No, as a venue host, you will be expected to review proposals from artists requesting space within your venue. (Depending on the size of your venue, this could be a lot of work.) If you are not interested in being the host, but want to open your venue, contact contact Dave DeBoer about volunteers who want to host a venue.
What happens when I pick an artist to show in my venue?
You will complete a Hosting Agreement with all artists you would like to show in your venue. (What's this?) When you reach an agreement, change your account on artprize.org to reflect that you've accepted a work to be in your venue. That space will no longer be available and the work showing in it will be made eligible for winning the prize.
Can I show my own work in my venue?
You can register your venue and show your own work in that venue. However, you must submit that work as an artist to ArtPrize.org, or it will not be eligible for the prize. Only one work may be submitted per artist.
How do I decide which artists should show work in my venue?
When you are interested in hosting a particular artist, make sure they communicate clearly what they are looking for in a space (square footage, lighting, access to electricity, etc). If your space is a good fit for their work, complete the Hosting Agreement with the artist. What's this?
When will my venue be required to be open?
There will be open hours required each day from September 23rd - October 10, 2009. See Venue assistance if you want help with managing your venue.
- September 23 6pm-10pm
- Monday-Thursday 5pm-8pm
- Friday & Saturday 12pm-10pm
- Sundays 12pm-6pm
What are the basic specifications for becoming an ArtPrize venue?
See the Venue guidelines.
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Voting
Exactly how will the winner of the $250,000 prize be determined?
The highest number of votes is the only deciding factor in winning the ArtPrize. Attendees of the ArtPrize event in Grand Rapids must register on site to vote. Anyone attending can register to vote. On October 1, 2009 the top ten works with the most votes will be announced and become the only works eligible to win the ArtPrize. Those ten works will continue to receive votes until October 8, when the work with the most votes will be announced and win the $250,000 ArtPrize.
How does voting work?
Potential voters must register in person at the ArtPrize event. Once you register, you will have access to vote on artprize.org and via text messages from mobile devices. During the preliminary voting period, votes will be tallied real time on artprize.org to track every voter’s reaction to artists’ work. On October 1, when the ten finalists are announced, each registered voter will have one final vote to attribute to one of the finalists. The results of the votes for finalists will be concealed until the winner is announced October 8, 2009.
Will there be other awards besides the $250,000 ArtPrize?
Beside the $250,000 top prize, 2nd place will win $100,000, 3rd place $50,000 and the other seven finalists will each receive $7,000.
Where will voting take place?
All voting will be electronic. It can be done either at artprize.org after the voter has physically registered at the event, or via text message using a cell phone at the event.
Can I vote on work without physically attending the event?
No. Voting is only open to people who register in person at the ArtPrize event in Grand Rapids, MI between September 23 – October 7, 2009.
Why do I need to register at the event to vote?
ArtPrize requires that people register at the event to vote to ensure that people are associated to only one account for voting. ArtPrize is concerned about making the voting process as fair as possible. If you can't make it to the event this year, hopefully, next year you can attend and take in the full experience.
I registered at the event but I never received my email with my password so I can vote online. What should I do now?
If you walked up and did not already have an artprize.org account, an email with an auto-generated password would have been sent to the email you registered with. If you don't see the email in your inbox, please double check to make sure that it's not in your Spam folder.
If you still don't see an email from ArtPrize, You can go onto artprize.org and go through the forgot password process to regenerate a new password that will be emailed to you.
Once you login with your email and auto-generated password, make sure you change your password in Account & Settings to something that you can remember.
If you are really stuck, you can contact us at support@artprize.org and we will try to help you out.
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