Grand Rapids

At this fall’s ArtPrize — the massive visual arts contest in Grand Rapids, Michigan — 37,000 members of the public voted for their favorite work. A 19-foot-wide oil painting, “Open Water no. 24,” beat out more than 1,200 entries. Kurt spoke to winner Ran Ortner about how the prize has changed his life — and […]

More than 1,200 artists representing every genre — from music to sculpture to poetry — are presenting their work at ArtPrize in Grand Rapids. The public chooses the winner. But as Michigan Radio’s Jennifer Guerra discovered, to get votes, you need a plan to get noticed.

This October, one lucky artist will win the top award at the ArtPrize contest in Grand Rapids, Michigan: $250,0000. Rick De Vos, grandson of the founder of Amway, created the competition and donated the prize money. He tells Kurt why he wanted to bring world-class art to his struggling hometown.