Breakdancing and chocolate: ArtPrize plans events

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — ArtPrize organizers and the city of Grand Rapids are gearing up for the return of one of the world’s largest art competitions.

This year’s event kicks off on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. and runs to Sept. 28. It will feature 843 works of art and 972 artists, organizers say. In 2023, more than 700,000 visitors made their way to Grand Rapids for ArtPrize.

“This year, we are also featuring some exhibits that won’t be part of the competition per se, but these are really notable artists. Some have been past ArtPrize winners, others are works of art from collections around the state that are coming out here to be on display during ArtPrize,” ArtPrize Executive Director Catlin Whitington told News 8 Wednesday.

One of those borrowed pieces includes the Z-Car I , a “stunning prototype created by legendary architect and designer Zaha Hadid” from the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University.

The exhibitions team also plans to activate other spaces and activities. Whitington highlighted the Priceless Gallery at 61 Commerce Street, which is a bespoke 4,000-square-foot art gallery that the team is curating with 20 artists to display their work. Other events will also be hosted there at night.

“We’ve got a breakdance battle. We’ve got the Grand Rapids Symphony coming out to perform. We have, in conjunction with the symphony, there will also be a lot of artisan chocolatemakers that will be showcasing chocolate, the art of chocolate and the symphony will actually be pairing their works with these chocolate creations,” Whitington said.

The ArtPrize District spans nearly 4 square miles of the urban core in Grand Rapids, encompassing multiple neighborhoods and diverse districts within the city.

Venue and event information have not been released yet but will be made available soon, along with an interactive map, on the ArtPrize website .

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