ArtPrize exhibit raises money for cancer patients, art grants

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — ArtPrize 2024 is set to kick off Friday, where thousands of people will visit Grand Rapids to view artwork and exhibits all over downtown.

In the lobby of the Amway Grand Plaza, you’ll find “Face it Together: An ArtPrize Exhibit,” which aims to transform art into a movement. The idea the for the exhibit started in a hospital room after Kristie Hollingsworth was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. At that time, she was working in development with ArtPrize when her life got put on hold for her treatment. Hollingsworth is now the CEO of Developing Dreams, a business that helps grow startup companies.

“The hope was that we could empower individuals during ArtPrize to sponsor a piece of art, be part of a piece of art and know that their face is going to do really powerful things,” Hollingsworth said.

She wanted a way to give back to the community that helped her on her journey through treatment. Two years later, the idea is becoming a reality with the help of many different players.

With a donation of $10 or more, individuals can upload an image through the FaceFundings website to be a part of the exhibit. FaceFunding is a new Grand Rapids startup and this is their first project since launching.

From there, designer Dean Hunt will take the images collected to digitize and transform ArtPrize Executive Director Catlin Whitington’s Plastic Hills for the Plastic Arts canvas art piece for the exhibit.

“It’s more than just ten dollars, it really is a symbol of support,” Hollingsworth said. “Every time an upload happens, that’s one more mortgage that’s paid, that’s one more car payment because when you are going through cancer, some people can’t work and its not really a choice.”

The money raised through the exhibit will go toward funding ArtPrize artists’ grants and awards and supporting West Michigan families battling cancer through the Michigan-based, statewide non-profit New Day Foundation for Families .

“Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the art will regenerate and all the new faces will be uploaded into it so we want you to not only upload your face but we want you to come back so you can find yourself in the art and see how you are a part of this community supporting artists and families battling cancer in west Michigan,” said Julie Nemeth with Strategic Partnerships and Development for New Day Foundation for Families.

Hollingsworth said their goal is to receive 10,000 uploads this year for the exhibit. To her, this is more than just a selfie.

“This is a symbol of hope for me and the power of one face, plus $10,000, $50,000 makes a huge impact in someone’s life,” she said.

Supporters of either nonprofit can upload their facial image to the FaceFunding website to become part of the exhibit. To learn more, watch FaceFunding’s video clip .

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