New awards for ArtPrize 2012

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - New awards are coming to ArtPrize 2012.

There are 1,517 pieces of artwork all vying for a top prize of $200,000.

The artists will compete for a total of $560,000 in cash prizes at the event in downtown Grand Rapids from Sept. 19 to Oct. 7.

This year, ArtPrize has added more cash prizes to give some of the awards more meaning.

There is a new $100,000 juried grand prize at stake this year, something seen at many of the world's major art competitions.

ArtPrize has also added five $20,000 juried awards in 2D, 3D, urban space, as well as time/performance and venue.

All together, $200,000 will be decided in the professional juried awards, leaving more than $300,000 in the hands of the voting public to decide, creating a new tension in the competition.

"The professionals are coming from a completely different angle than someone without a formal background in contemporary art would have," Brian Burch of ArtPrize told 24 Hour News 8. "The idea behind ArtPrize is everyone has a voice."

Voting is free and open to anyone 16 years of age or older. The public can vote via the ArtPrize website, or text-a-vote, or on the ArtPrize app on their smartphone.