ArtPrize 2012 extends voting, adds $100,000 award | News

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan (WZZM) - ArtPrize organizers announced some changes for the 2012 event this morning.

ArtPrize 2012 will start on Saturday, September 19. The winners will be announced October 5 and the displays will continue through October 7th.

Some changes will be made in the prize money, including a $100,000 juried prize. There have been complaints in the past about the lack of art expertise in selecting the winners of ArtPrize.

The top prize in the voting section of ArtPrize will be $200,000. Second place will garner $75,000 and the third place winner will receive $50,000. The rest of the top ten finalists will receive $5,000 each.

ArtPrize is also extending the first round of voting from September 19 through September 30. This is longer than in past years, 11 days instead of 7 days. This will include two weekends for voters in the first round.

ArtPrize founder Rick DeVos said Tuesday, "Artprize is a young organization; we're still learning to play this game...and course correct."

ArtPrize will no longer feature lists of the trending top 25 entries by neighborhood, but instead use an overall top 25 trending list after several days of voting have elapsed.