The Complete Guide to Seeing the Maximum Number of ArtPrize Exhibits in Only Two Hours

ArtPrize is the world’s largest annual art event that takes place each fall in Grand Rapids, MI. 

Hundreds of artists bring their masterpieces and display their art throughout the city. 

Restaurants, shops, parks, and museums all open their doors as venues and temporary art galleries. 

Thousands of visitors admire the artwork and vote for their favorite using the ArtPrize Mobile Site. 

Winning artists share in a total prize fund of $250,000.00 that is awarded based on the public’s votes. 

The best part about ArtPrize…it’s FREE. 

That’s right, everyone from students and groups of friends to families and couples to the elderly have the opportunity to connect and experience art from hundreds of talented artists, for free. 

Many of the ArtPrize exhibits are outside. These art exhibits are open for viewing 24/7 during the 18 days of ArtPrize (September 15 – October 2, 2022). 

The majority of ArtPrize exhibits are inside venues like restaurants, shops, and museums – all throughout three square miles of downtown Grand Rapids. 

The ArtPrize Venue Map shows the location of each venue. Your ArtPrize Visitors Account shows the hours of each venue, along with the ArtPrize exhibits on display at each location. 

Never been to ArtPrize before? Be sure to check out these 5 Tips to Make Your First ArtPrize Experience Mind-Blowing. 

The toughest part about ArtPrize…parking. 

Here’s the thing about parking downtown Grand Rapids…spaces are limited.

Whether you want to park on the street or in a parking garage, you have to pay to park. 

If your preferred way to park is via a parking garage, try the Ottawa-Fulton Parking Ramp located at 50 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. 

The most affordable way to park downtown Grand Rapids for ArtPrize is to park on the street. 

The problem…there are only a handful of parking places on each side street (and you usually need to parallel park). 

If you are lucky enough to find open street parking, know that Grand Rapids enforces a 2 hour parking limit. 

Be sure to pay for the full 2 hour parking limit when visiting ArtPrize. 

Fair warning: Grand Rapids is very vigilant about monitoring parking meters. They are quick to issue a $30.00 ticket if your parking meter expires.

So, you’ve found one of those rare street parking spots. You’ve paid the parking meter.

You are ready to experience ArtPrize in 2 hours.

Your Fail-Proof Guide to Experiencing the Most ArtPrize Exhibits in Only 2 Hours.

ArtPrize is scattered all throughout downtown Grand Rapids. During ArtPrize, you can park anywhere downtown Grand Rapids and see tons of incredible artwork. 

But if you only have two hours and you want to make the most of your ArtPrize experience, follow this guide to see the maximum amount of artwork possible in the shortest amount of time. 

Stop 01: Rosa Parks Circle

Location: 135 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Public Restrooms? Yes

This outdoor plaza is located at the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. Surrounded by The Grand Rapids Art Museum and numerous coffee shops and restaurants, it’s the perfect place to start your two hour ArtPrize adventure. 

Be sure to wander around the southeast corner of the Grand Rapids Art Museum to the Food Truck fleet and explore the two exhibits on display in the Art Pod (a winning ArtPrize exhibit at ArtPrize 2021). 

Then, make your way to the north side of Rosa Parks Circle to watch artists paint six cars at the West Michigan Honda Dealers Design and Drive exhibit.

Continue down Monroe Center St NW and enjoy giant outdoor artwork displays on the sidewalk in front of Biggby Coffee like “Light of Michigan” by Tom Gifford and “Marilyn Monroe” by William Chatlosh. Be sure to snap a picture with the interactive exhibit “The Faces of Michigan” by Frank Renberg. 

Wander to the corner of Pearl Street and Monroe Center St NW to Mojo’s Dueling Piano Bar, Flannigan’s Irish Pub and The Bull’s Head to experience a handful of breathtaking ArtPrize exhibits. (Side note – these locations are fun stops on a night of bar hopping in Grand Rapids).

Stop 02: The B.O.B

Location: 20 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Public Restrooms? Yes

The B.O.B or “Big Old Building” is a multi-level restaurant and entertainment center in the center of downtown Grand Rapids. 

Open 7 days a week from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm for ArtPrize visitors, The B.O.B has 55 ArtPrize exhibits on display throughout the building. It’s a great place to walk around and appreciate a ton of artwork, quickly. 

(OPTIONAL) Hop on a LIME Scooter or Bike

If you are looking to save time moving between venues and want to scooter or bike instead of walk, now is the perfect time to hop on a LIME scooter or bike (we recommend the scooters) to get from The B.O.B. to the Blue Bridge and then across. 

Download the LIME app.

Rent a scooter or bike from the station on the corner of Monroe Ave NW and Louis St NW. Ride it down Monroe Ave NW toward the Courtyard by Marriott Grand Rapids Downtown. Cross the street at Campau Ave NW. When you reach the Riverfront Plaza Condominium, cross the street to get onto the Blue Bridge.

Stop 03: Blue Bridge

Location: Access points next to GVSU’s Eberhard Center and the Grand Rapids Riverwalk near Plaza Towers. 

Public Restrooms? No

The iconic Blue Bridge is a pedestrian footbridge that stretches across the Grand River. Originally constructed in 1892 as a railroad bridge, this pedestrian bridge is one of the longest truss bridges in Michigan. At night, the Blue Bridge is illuminated with lights. 

For safety, The Blue Bridge will be closed from midnight to 6 am for the duration of ArtPrize. 

The Blue Bridge has massive interactive exhibits that are a must-see on your tour of ArtPrize. This is a great place to stop and take a picture with the Grand Rapids city landscape in the background. 

(OPTIONAL) If you hopped on a LIME Scooter or Bike, drop it off at the LIME parking station located on Front Ave NW, directly across the pedestrian crosswalk.

Stop 04: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum

Location: 303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Public Restrooms? Yes

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is the presidential museum and burial place of the 38th president of the United States, and his wife Betty Ford. Gerald R. Ford was born and died in Grand Rapids, MI. 

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is open for ArtPrize visitors from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday – Saturday. On Sunday the museum is open from noon until 8:00 pm. 

This ArtPrize venue holds 27 official exhibits, the majority of which are indoors. A few of the art exhibits are on display on the sidewalk surrounding the entrance to the museum. 

Stop 05: Gillett Bridge

Location: Access points between the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and An-Nab-Awen park and along the Grand Rapids Riverwalk between the Amway Grand Plaza and the DeVos Place Ramp. 

Public Restrooms? No

The Gillett Bridge is a concrete pedestrian footbridge that spans the Grand River. Be sure to admire each part of the ArtPrize exhibit “Abandoned” by Troy Ramos, which spans the length of the bridge. 

Note – there is a LIME dead zone just past the Gillett Bridge, so it is best to walk across this bridge while admiring the artwork and listening to the Grand River rushing below.

Stop 06: DeVos Place Convention Center

Location: 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Public Restrooms? Yes

The DeVos Place is the premier convention center downtown Grand Rapids. Throughout the year, the DeVos place hosts conventions, trade shows, meetings, and major events. Located on the banks of the Grand River, the DeVos Place is a stunning exhibit space. 

Open Monday – Saturday from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm and Sunday from noon until 6:00 pm, The DeVos Place holds 47 ArtPrize exhibits. Many of them are massive, taking advantage of the open space and super high ceilings of the DeVos Place. 

If you notice an artist hanging around near their ArtPrize exhibit, be sure to stop and ask them questions about their piece such as what inspired this piece or can you tell me about your artistic process? 

Be patient while admiring artwork displayed in the DeVos Place. This exhibition center is one of the most popular ArtPrize venues. Depending on the time of day, the walk ways can get packed with other ArtPrize visitors. 

Follow the hallways that connect to the next stop on your two hour ArtPrize adventure…

Stop 07: Amway Grand Plaza

Location: 187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Public Restrooms? Yes

The Amway Grand Plaza is a historical luxury hotel downtown Grand Rapids. Owned by Curio Collection by Hilton, this building is draped in rich wallpaper, stunning chandeliers, and intricately patterned carpets. 

Open every day from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm, The Amway Grand Plaza holds 14 ArtPrize exhibits, in addition to five restaurants and lounges. 

One of the restaurants is Starbucks. If you are starting to notice a dip in energy levels from your jam-packed two hour ArtPrize adventure, grab a coffee to refuel for your last ArtPrize stop of the day.  

(OPTIONAL) If you are starting to run out of time on your parking meter, hop back on a LIME scooter and make your way from the Amway Grand Plaza to Calder Plaza by heading up Lyon St NW and turning left on Ottawa Ave NW.

Stop 08: Calder Plaza

Location: 341 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Public Restrooms? No

Calder Plaza is a large outdoor concrete plaza that connects city and county buildings in Grand Rapids. Many outdoor community events are hosted in Calder Plaza. La Grande Vitesse is a massive red metal public sculpture created by American artist Alexander Calder. 

The ArtPrize exhibit on display outdoors at Calder Plaza is “EIRO Vantage” by artist Noah Kaplan. 

This exhibit is a new form of interactive digital art. EIRO is a 35 foot tall tower representing human needs and desires. Speakers redefine your experience of sound. Projectors provide an unbelievable lightshow. Screens provide a visually interactive experience.

Vote For Your Favorite ArtPrize Exhibits

After you complete your two hour ArtPrize tour, take a few moments to reflect on your favorite ArtPrize entries. 

Which pieces stand out to you? Which artwork evoked an emotional response? Which pieces did you have the most fun interacting with? If you could only see a handful of ArtPrize exhibits, which ones would you recommend to your friends?

When you have decided on your favorites, vote for them using the steps below. Artists are awarded a share of $250,000.00 based on ArtPrize visitor’s votes.

1. Create an ArtPrize Visitor Profile Online

   Sign up for an ArtPrize account with your name, zip code, and email address. You can also create a password so you can log in each time you visit ArtPrize in 2022. If you have created an account for previous ArtPrize competitions, you will need to create a new Visitor Profile this year. 

2. Search For Artist’s Name

   When you log into your ArtPrize Visitor Profile, you will automatically be on the map. Click the blue “map” at the top and a drop down menu will appear. Click “Artist” and then search by artist name to find work from a specific artist.

3. Vote For Your Favorite Pieces Online by Clicking the Star in the Bottom Right Corner

   Vote for your favorite ArtPrize entries by clicking the star in the lower right hand corner of each piece online while logged into your account.