Michigan’s annual ArtPrize competition enters its 7th year

Despite technical issues plaguing the start of ArtPrize 7, visitors and residents have descended on downtown Grand Rapids. Current State’s Scott Pohl talks with ArtPrize Exhibitions Director Kevin Buist.

The new Grand Rapids tap house will be the second in a series of new biergarten and tap houses that the brewery plans to open in Michigan and across the country in the coming years.

Artists from around the world are participating in the 19-day event, with displays at 162 public venues around the Grand Rapids area. As long as you’re willing to courageous the crowds, you’ll certainly see some handsome and some challenging works. The event begins Wednesday and goes through October. 11. After a second round of voting, the winners of public and juried awards will be announced October. 9.

Voting at ArtPrize will follow in the same style as past year. An entire city block will be converted into a temporary arts district.

Atwater Brewery is planning on bringing their Detroit beer to the renovated Rowe Hotel Building at 201 Michigan Street NW. The inaugural DisArt Festival was held earlier this year and the message of “Art is Every Body” will be highlighted at ArtPrize.