1,500+ artists to show at ArtPrize 2012

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Organizers say this year's ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids will feature entries from 1,511 artists at 162 venues.

Details about this fall's installment of the annual art contest were revealed Thursday evening.

Participating artists hail from 56 countries and 45 states.

ArtPrize executive director Catherine Creamer says "the numbers really don't matter" and that organizers "are excited about the quality of the work this year."

Creamer added that ArtPrize will have roughly the same amount of entries and venues as last year.

Creamer also told 24 Hour News 8 that the competition will continue to bring in money to the city.

"Last year, we know that over $15 million was brought in," said Creamer.

The GRAM switched things up this year by adding a 'transformation' theme.

"These pieces, I think, will be jaw-droppingly gorgeous," GRAM CEO and Director Dana Friis-Hansen told 24 Hour News 8. "Also, from a technical point of view, it's like, 'How did they do that?'"

DeVos Place was tight-lipped Thursday on exactly what ArtPrize-goers will see, but said to expect world-class artists.

"There's going to be one that's going to be a ceramic installation. That's going to be pretty phenomenal on a large scale," Devos Place Assistant General Manager Eddie Tadlock told 24 Hour News 8. "I'm not going to tell you exactly what it is because we don't exactly know right now."

Organizers wanted to bring more art outside this year, so there will be more art in the parks.

And ArtPrize's website revealed it's bringing back art in the river. At that website, art enthusiasts can also see a sneak peak of some of the pieces entered in the competition.

This year's event is scheduled for Sept. 19 to Oct. 7. Total prize money is $560,000. Some winners will be picked by public voting, and other prizes will be juried awards.

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Online:

ArtPrize

-- 24 Hour News 8's Marlee Ginter contributed to this report.