ArtPrize: when downtown Grand Rapids becomes one giant art show

Each fall, downtown Grand Rapids becomes a city-sized art gallery. ArtPrize entries show up in galleries and museums, but also in storefronts, parks, breweries, and other registered spaces. There is no single front door, and you do not need a museum ticket to start looking.

The event began in 2009 as an experiment developed by Grand Rapids entrepreneur Rick DeVos. Public voting was part of ArtPrize from the start. Juried awards joined the mix in 2010, so today’s winners are chosen through both public votes and panels of experts. The event is now a nonprofit presented with the City of Grand Rapids, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., and Kendall College of Art and Design.

The prize still matters, but the current numbers are more useful than an old ranking. ArtPrize says it awards more than $400,000 directly to artists through popular and juried voting and distributes more than $200,000 in annual grants. Those totals can change from year to year.

For 2026, Preview Week runs Sept. 12-17 and the competition runs Sept. 18-Oct. 3. If you have only an hour or two, use the official map to choose one downtown cluster instead of trying to cover the entire event. Viewing is free; check individual venue hours before you go.