110-559: ArtPrize is an art competition and festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan . Anyone over the age of 18 can display their art, and any space within the three-square-mile ArtPrize district can be a venue. There are typically over 160 venues such as museums, galleries, bars, restaurants, hotels, public parks, bridges, laundromats, auto body shops, and more. ArtPrize lasts for 19 days beginning in late September, and during each festival $ 500,000 in cash prizes are awarded based on public voting and
220-421: A "heritage village" made up of several well-preserved 19th-century buildings, including a log cabin, schoolhouse, and barn. The nature center is also home to Blandford School, a highly selective environmental education program for sixth graders from the metropolitan region, which is run by Grand Rapids Public Schools and serves as a feeder school for City High-Middle School . At 264 acres (107 ha), Blandford
330-471: A $ 200,000 grand prize winner. The grand prize winner does not receive $ 12,500 for their category win. The jury awarded five $ 12,500 category winners and a $ 200,000 grand prize winner. The category winners were: The jurors were: The 2016 ArtPrize competition, also known as ArtPrize Eight, took place from September 21 to October 9. Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is a city in and county seat of Kent County, Michigan , United States. At
440-630: A Hungarian native educated in Catholic institutions in Austria, arrived, presiding over the Catholic mission in the area until his death in 1852. That year, Campau, Rix Robinson, Rev. Slater, and the husband of Chief Noonday's daughter, Meccissininni, traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak about the purchase of Odawa land on the west side of the river with President Andrew Jackson . Jackson was originally unimpressed with Meccissininni, though Meccissininni, who often acquired white customs, asked Jackson for
550-464: A compromise bill to save the Endowment. The Williams-Coleman substitute increased funding to states arts councils for new programs to expand access to the arts in rural and inner city areas, leave the obscenity determination to the courts, and altered the composition of the review panels to increase diversity of representation and eradicate the possibility of conflicts of interest. After fierce debate,
660-495: A four month long general strike on April 19, 1911. Much of the public, the mayor, the press and the Catholic diocese supported the strike, believing that the unwillingness of business leaders to negotiate was unjust. Skilled and unskilled factory labor was mainly Dutch (60 percent) and Polish (25 percent), primarily immigrants. According to the 1911 Immigration Commission report, the Dutch had an average of 8 percent higher wages than
770-631: A jury of art experts. ArtPrize was created in 2009 by Rick DeVos, the son of Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos and United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos . The DeVos family contributes approximately $ 560,000 annually to the ArtPrize budget. In 2017, the festival's connection to the DeVos family's wealth and their conservative politics was criticized by artist Eric Millikin in his “Made of Money” installation, placed within ArtPrize. In 2014, The Art Newspaper listed ArtPrize as one of
880-474: A minor dispute, workers were inspired to form labor unions ; workers requested furniture companies to increase wages , fewer working hours, the creation of collective bargaining and the institution of a minimum wage to replace piece work . The furniture businesses refused to respond with unions as they believed that any meeting represented recognition of unions. Workers in Grand Rapids then began
990-538: A panel of three arts experts. An additional $ 100,000 in awards are given to artists in four entry categories—Two-Dimensional, Three-Dimensional, Time-Based, and Installation—as well as the Outstanding Venue Juried Award for best curatorial presentation. Visitors must attend the annual event in person in order to vote. They can either download the ArtPrize mobile app, free for iOS and Android devices, which uses location services to determine when
1100-582: A part of mailing addresses in Kent County. The quadrants are NE (northeast), NW (northwest), SE (southeast), and SW (southwest). Fulton Street serves as the north–south dividing line, while Division Avenue serves as the east–west dividing line separating these quadrants. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 45.27 square miles (117.25 km ), of which, 44.40 square miles (115.00 km ) of it
1210-713: A public vote, the organization distributed seven juried awards for ArtPrize 2011. An award dedicated to an outstanding venue was added in 2011. Each juried award winner received $ 7,000. The 2012 ArtPrize competition ran from September 19 to October 7. The event introduced new changes to the ArtPrize Juried Awards program, including category prizes valued at $ 20,000 (up from $ 7,000) and a first-ever $ 100,000 Juried Grand Prize, decided by panel of three art experts. ArtPrize 2012 official participation numbers: The 2012 prizes, which were decided by public vote, totaled $ 360,000, were: The top 10 entries were determined by
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#17327980491411320-630: A record 412,560 votes, and announced on October 10. In addition to awards distributed as a result of a public vote, the organization distributed seven juried awards, totaling $ 200,000, during ArtPrize 2012 in five categories and a juried grand prize. Each category winner received $ 20,000. The Juried Grand Prize winner was awarded $ 100,000. The award was decided by a three-member jury panel. The 2013 ArtPrize competition ran from September 18 to October 6. ArtPrize 2013 official participation numbers: The 2013 prizes, which were decided by public vote, totaled $ 360,000, were: The top 10 entries were determined by
1430-433: A record 446,850 votes, and announced on October 4. In addition to awards distributed as a result of a public vote, the organization distributed seven juried awards, totaling $ 200,000, during ArtPrize 2013 in five categories and a juried grand prize. Each category winner received $ 20,000. The Juried Grand Prize winner was awarded $ 100,000. The award was decided by a three-member jury panel. David Dodde's Fleurs et riviere
1540-563: A retail destination for the region, hosting four department stores: Herpolsheimer's ( Lazarus ), Jacobson's , Steketee's (founded in 1862), and Wurzburg's. In 1945, Grand Rapids became the first city in the United States to add fluoride to its drinking water. National home furnishing conferences were held in Grand Rapids for about seventy-five years, concluding in the 1960s. By that time, the furniture-making industry had largely shifted to North Carolina . As with many older cities in
1650-410: A similar suit to the one the president was wearing. While later wearing his suit that was made similar to Jackson's, Meccissininni also unknowingly imitated Jackson's hat, placing a piece of weed in it, which impressed Jackson since it symbolized mourning the death of his wife. John Ball , representing a group of New York land speculators, bypassed Detroit for a better deal in Grand Rapids traveling to
1760-408: A successor takes office. Ten members of the council constitutes a quorum. The current council members as of September 28, 2024: President Biden has nominated the following to fill seats on the commission. They await Senate confirmation. Between 1965 and 2008, the agency has made in excess of 128,000 grants, totaling more than $ 5 billion. From the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, Congress granted
1870-422: A typical summer. The average temperature of the area is 49 °F (9 °C). The highest temperature in the area was recorded on July 13, 1936, at 108 °F (42 °C), and the lowest was recorded on February 13–14, 1899, at −24 °F (−31 °C). During an average year, sunshine occurs in 46% of the daylight hours. On 138 nights, the temperature dips to below 32 °F (0 °C). On average, 9.2 days
1980-513: A visitor has stepped into the three square-mile event district—or visit an ArtPrize HUB location to register in person. Each artist is assigned a 5-digit vote code which is posted near their entry during the event, and available both online and in the mobile app. The 2009 exhibition occurred in a 3-square-mile (7.8 km) area of downtown Grand Rapids, from September 21 to October 9, 2009. 1,262 artists or artist collaboratives displayed their work in 159 venues. An estimated 200,000 attendees visited
2090-412: A year have temperatures that meet or exceed the 90 °F (32 °C) mark, and 5.6 days a year have lows that are 0 °F (−18 °C) or colder. The coldest maximum temperature on record was −6 °F (−21 °C) in 1899, whereas the most recent subzero Fahrenheit daily maximum was −2 °F (−19 °C) in 1994. During the reference period of 1991 to 2020, the coldest daily maximum on average
2200-954: Is a sub-agency of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities , along with the National Endowment for the Humanities , the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities , and the Institute of Museum and Library Services . The NEA has its offices in Washington, D.C. It was awarded Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre in 1995, as well as the Special Tony Award in 2016. In 1985,
2310-584: Is awarded by the President of the United States and NEA for outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in the United States. Upon entering office in 1981, the incoming Ronald Reagan administration intended to push Congress to abolish the NEA completely over a three-year period. Reagan's first director of the Office of Management and Budget, David A. Stockman , thought
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#17327980491412420-714: Is composed of 25 members, 18 appointed by the president of the United States with the consent of the United States Senate , six ex officio members, and the chairperson of the NEA, who also serves as chair of the council. The six ex officio members are members of Congress, where two are appointed by the Speaker of the House, one by the Minority Leader of the House, two by the Majority Leader of
2530-549: Is facially valid, as it neither inherently interferes with First Amendment rights nor violates constitutional vagueness principles. The 1994 midterm elections cleared the way for House Speaker Newt Gingrich to lead a renewed attack on the NEA. Gingrich had called for the NEA to be eliminated along with the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting . While some in Congress attacked
2640-406: Is land and 0.87 square miles (2.25 km ) is water. Grand Rapids has a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfa ), with very warm and humid summers, cold and snowy winters, and short and mild springs and autumns. Even though it is in the middle of the continent, the city experiences some maritime effects due to its location east of Lake Michigan, including a high number of cloudy days during
2750-633: Is one of the largest urban nature centers in the United States. As of the 2010 census , there were 188,036 people, 72,126 households, and 41,015 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,235.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,635.2/km ). There were 80,619 housing units at an average density of 1,815.7 per square mile (701.0/km ). The city's racial makeup was 64.6% White (59.0% Non-Hispanic White ), 20.9% African American , 0.7% Native American , 1.9% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 7.7% from other races , and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 15.6% of
2860-518: Is the economic and cultural hub of West Michigan . A historic furniture manufacturing center, Grand Rapids is home to five of the world's leading office furniture companies and is nicknamed "Furniture City". As a result of the numerous micro and craft breweries, many with notable reputations nationally and globally, Grand Rapids is also known as "Beer City USA". Due to the prominence of the Grand River, many local businesses and civic organizations use
2970-434: Is the federal agency responsible for recognizing outstanding achievement in the arts. It does this by awarding three lifetime achievement awards. The NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships are awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the art of jazz. The NEA National Heritage Fellowships are awarded for artistic excellence and accomplishments for American's folk and traditional arts. The National Medal of Arts
3080-583: The 2020 census , the city had a population of 198,893, making it the second-most populous city in Michigan, after Detroit . Grand Rapids is the central city of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area , which has a population of 1,162,950 and a combined statistical area population of 1,502,552. Located 161 miles (259 km) northwest of Detroit, Grand Rapids is situated along the Grand River approximately 25 miles (40 km) east of Lake Michigan , it
3190-487: The Grand Rapids Public Museum . In October 1870, Grand Rapids became a desired location for immigrants, with about 120 Swedes arriving in the United States to travel and create a "colony" in the area in one week. During the second half of the nineteenth century, the city became a major lumbering center, processing timber harvested in the region. Logs were floated down the Grand River to be milled in
3300-534: The JW Marriott Grand Rapids , the first JW Marriott Hotel in the Midwest. It is themed from cityscapes of Grand Rapids' sister cities: Omihachiman, Japan; Bielsko-Biała, Poland; Perugia, Italy; Ga District, Ghana; and Zapopan, Mexico. When the hotel opened, Amway Hotel corporation hired photographer Dan Watts to travel to each of the sister cities and photograph them for the property. Each floor of
3410-759: The Panic of 1873 . In 1880, the country's first hydro-electric generator was put to use on the city's west side. Due to its flourishing furniture industry, Grand Rapids began being recognized as "Furniture City". Grand Rapids was also an early center for the automobile industry , as the Austin Automobile Company operated there from 1901 until 1921. Furniture companies included the William A. Berkey Company and its successors, Baker Furniture Company , Williams-Kimp, and Widdicomb Furniture Company . The furniture industry began to grow significantly into
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3520-512: The " NEA Four ". Since 1996, the NEA has partially rebounded with a 2015 budget of $ 146.21 million. In FY 2010, the NEA's budget reached mid-1990s levels with a $ 167.5 million budget but fell again in FY 2011 with a budget of $ 154 million. On March 11, 2024, President Joe Biden released the President's Budget for FY 2025, with $ 210.1 million budgeted for the NEA. The NEA provides grants in
3630-533: The 1830s. Ancestors of these people included not only English colonists but people of mixed ethnic Dutch, Mohawk , French Canadian, and French Huguenot descent from the colonial period in New York. However, after 1837, the area saw poor times, with many of the French returning to their places of origin, with poverty hitting the area for the next few years. The first Grand Rapids newspaper, The Grand River Times ,
3740-471: The 1980s and 1990s. According to city government data, Grand Rapids has 37 distinct neighborhoods: Grand Rapids developed on the banks of the Grand River , where there was once a set of rapids, at an altitude of 610 feet (186 m) above sea level . Ships could navigate on the river up to this fall line, stopping because of the rapids. The river valley is flat and narrow, surrounded by steep hills and bluffs. The terrain becomes more rolling hills away from
3850-647: The Arts later hosted the Mapplethorpe show. The cancellation was highly criticized and in September 1989, the Director of the Corcoran gallery, Christina Orr-Cahill, issued a formal statement of apology saying, "The Corcoran Gallery of Art in attempting to defuse the NEA funding controversy by removing itself from the political spotlight, has instead found itself in the center of controversy. By withdrawing from
3960-466: The Arts was created during the term of President Lyndon B. Johnson under the general auspices of the Great Society . According to historian Karen Patricia Heath, "Johnson personally was not much interested in the acquisition of knowledge, cultural or otherwise, for its own sake, nor did he have time for art appreciation or meeting with artists." The NEA is "dedicated to supporting excellence in
4070-468: The Commissioners refused to grant" of which Joseph La Framboise received 1,000 dollars immediately and 200 dollars a year, for life. Madeline La Framboise retired the trading post to Rix Robinson in 1821 and returned to Mackinac. That year, Grand Rapids was described as being the home of an Odawa village of about 50 to 60 huts on the north side of the river near the 5th Ward, with Kewkishkam being
4180-470: The February record high of 73 °F (23 °C), which was recorded on February 27, 2024. In April 1956, the western and northern portions of the city and its suburbs were hit by a violent tornado which locally produced F5 damage and killed 18 people. With the Grand River flowing through the center of Grand Rapids, the city has been prone to floods. From March 25 to 29, 1904, more than one-half of
4290-660: The Grand River Valley, in hopes of evangelizing them. In 1821, the Council of Three Fires signed the first Treaty of Chicago , ceding to the United States all lands in Michigan Territory south of the Grand River, except for several small reservations, and required a native to prepare land in the area to establish a mission. The treaty also included "One hundred thousand dollars to satisfy sundry individuals, in behalf of whom reservations were asked, which
4400-441: The Grand River valley. Lincoln purchased land in what is now known as Grandville , while Campau became perhaps the most important settler when he bought 72 acres (291,000 m ) from the federal government for $ 90 and named his tract Grand Rapids. Over time, it developed as today's main downtown business district. In the spring of 1833, Campau sold to Joel Guild, who traveled from New York, a plot of land for $ 25.00, with Guild building
4510-455: The Grand River, though some of his followers believed that this was a wrestling match between the two that Slater won. Slater then erected the first settler structures in Grand Rapids, a log cabin for himself and a log schoolhouse. In 1825, McCoy returned and established a missionary station. He represented the settlers who began arriving from Ohio, New York and New England, the Yankee states of
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4620-427: The Mapplethorpe exhibition, we, the board of trustees and the director, have inadvertently offended many members of the arts community which we deeply regret. Our course in the future will be to support art, artists and freedom of expression." Democratic representative Pat Williams , chairman of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over the NEA reauthorization, partnered with Republican Tom Coleman to formulate
4730-495: The NEA an annual funding of between $ 160 and $ 180 million. In 1996, Congress cut the NEA funding to $ 99.5 million as a result of pressure from conservative groups, including the American Family Association , who criticized the agency for using tax dollars to fund highly controversial artists such as Barbara DeGenevieve , Andres Serrano , Robert Mapplethorpe , and the performance artists known as
4840-603: The NEA and the National Endowment for the Humanities were "good [departments] to simply bring to a halt because they went too far, and they would be easy to defeat." Another proposal would have halved the arts endowment budget. However, these plans were abandoned when the President's special task force on the arts and humanities, which included close Reagan allies such as conservatives Charlton Heston and Joseph Coors , discovered "the needs involved and benefits of past assistance," concluding that continued federal support
4950-722: The NEA won an honorary Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its work with the American Film Institute in the identification, acquisition, restoration and preservation of historic films. In 2016 and again in 2017, the National Endowment for the Arts received Emmy nominations from the Television Academy in the Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series category. The National Endowment for
5060-617: The Northern Tier. Shortly after, Detroit-born Louis Campau , known as the official founder of Grand Rapids, was convinced by fur trader William Brewster, who was in a rivalry with the American Fur Company, to travel to Grand Rapids and establish trade there. In 1826, Campau built his cabin, trading post, and blacksmith shop on the south bank of the Grand River near the rapids, stating the Native Americans in
5170-652: The Poles even when they did the same work. The pay difference was based on seniority and not ethnicity, but given that the Dutch had arrived earlier, seniority was linked to ethnicity. Ultimately, the Christian Reformed Church – where the majority of Dutch striking workers congregated – and the Fountain Street Church – led opposition to the strike, which resulted in its end on August 19, 1911. The strike spurred substantial changes to
5280-491: The Senate, and one by the Minority Leader of the Senate. These six serve two-year terms, and serve as nonvoting members of the council. The eighteen appointed by the President are selected from among private citizens of the United States who are widely recognized for their broad knowledge of, or expertise in, or for their profound interest in the arts; and have established records of distinguished service, or achieved eminence, in
5390-558: The United States, retail in the city suffered as the population moved to suburbs in the postwar era, enabled in part by federal subsidies for highway construction. The Grand Rapids suburbs began to develop rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s. For example, Wyoming saw rapid growth following the opening of retail outlets such as Rogers Plaza and Wyoming Village Mall on 28th Street , with some developments built so quickly that they were finished without functioning utilities. Consolidation of department stores occurred in Grand Rapids and nationally in
5500-486: The United States. The NEA also manages the National Medal of Arts , awarded annually by the President. Artist William Powhida has noted that "in one single auction, wealthy collectors bought almost a billion dollars in contemporary art at Christie's in New York." He further commented: "If you had a 2 percent tax just on the auctions in New York you could probably double the NEA budget in two nights." The NEA
5610-513: The Winners Announcement on October 7: Event organizers announced the addition of four juried awards for ArtPrize 2010. Event organizers noted that, depending on sponsor availability, more juried awards might be added to the program. The 2011 event ran from September 21 to October 9. The biggest change to the competition was the addition of an exhibition center dedicated to performance art—St. Cecilia Music Society. The organization
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#17327980491415720-452: The area were "friendly and peaceable". Campau returned to Detroit , then returned a year later with his wife and $ 5,000 of trade goods to trade with the Odawa and Ojibwa, with the only currency being fur. Campau's younger brother Touissant would often assist him with trade and other tasks at hand. Lucius Lyon , a Yankee Protestant who would later become a rival to Campau, was contracted by
5830-558: The area, returned to Grand Rapids to purchase the rest of the prime land and called his plot the Village of Kent. When Lyon and his partner N. O. Sergeant returned after their purchase, they arrived along with a posse of men carrying shovels and picks, intending to build a mill race . The group arrived to the music of a bugle which startled the settlement, with Chief Noonday offering Campau assistance to drive back Lyon's posse believing they were invaders. Also that year, Rev. Andrew Vizoisky,
5940-699: The areas of prose and poetry. The NEA offers partnerships for state, regional, federal, international activities, and design. The state arts agencies and regional arts organizations are the NEA's primary partners in serving the American people through the arts. Forty percent of all NEA funding goes to the state arts agencies and regional arts organizations. Additionally, the NEA awards three Lifetime Honors: NEA National Heritage Fellowships to master folk and traditional artists, NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships to jazz musicians and advocates, and NEA Opera Honors to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to opera in
6050-505: The art world would be awarded entirely by popular vote. At the inaugural ArtPrize, held in 2009, the winners were determined solely by the public, voting from mobile devices and the ArtPrize website. In 2010, ArtPrize added categories judged by art experts, and in 2014 restructured the awards format bringing two parallel tracks of public vote and juried awards with equal prize amounts. The updated award structure includes two Grand Prizes of $ 200,000, one chosen by public vote and one selected by
6160-433: The arts and shall make such appointments so as to represent equitably all geographical areas in the United States. These are appointed to serve terms of six years. The terms are staggered so three terms end September 3 each year. These members are not eligible for reappointment during the two-year period following the expiration of their term. However, they may continue to serve on the council after their term's expiration until
6270-529: The arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education". The NEA is governed by a chairman nominated by the president to a four-year term and subject to congressional confirmation. The NEA's advisory committee, the National Council on the Arts, advises the chairman on policies and programs, as well as reviewing grant applications, fundraising guidelines, and leadership initiative. The council
6380-460: The arts; so as to include practicing artists, civic cultural leaders, members of the museum profession, and others who are professionally engaged in the arts; and so as collectively to provide an appropriate distribution of membership among major art fields and interested citizens groups. In making these appointments, the President shall give due regard to equitable representation of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities who are involved in
6490-486: The attacks. Republican representative Dick Armey , an opponent of federal arts funding, began to attack a planned exhibition of photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe at the Corcoran Museum of Art that was to receive NEA support. On June 12, 1989, The Corcoran cancelled the Mapplethorpe exhibition, saying that it did not want to "adversely affect the NEA's congressional appropriations." The Washington Project for
6600-645: The banks of the Grand River , near what is now Ada Township , the junction of the Grand and Thornapple Rivers . They were French-speaking and Roman Catholic . They likely both spoke Odawa , Magdelaine's maternal ancestral language. In the fall of 1806, Joseph was fatally stabbed by a member of the Potawatomi tribe named Nequat. Joseph had been with his family and an entourage of voyageurs traveling between Grand River and Grand Rapids. The Potawatomi man had insisted that Joseph trade liquor with him. When Joseph refused,
6710-497: The categories of arts projects, national initiatives, and partnership agreements. Grants for arts projects support exemplary projects for artist communities, arts education, dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literature, local arts agencies, media arts, museums, music, musical theater, opera, presenting (including multidisciplinary art forms), theater, and visual arts. The NEA also grants individual fellowships in literature to creative writers and translators of exceptional talent in
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#17327980491416820-411: The center of the controversy was Piss Christ , a photo of a plastic crucifix submerged in a vial of an amber fluid described by the artist as his own urine. Republican Senators Jesse Helms and Al D'Amato began to rally against the NEA, and expanded the attack to include other artists. Prominent conservative Christian figures including Pat Robertson of the 700 Club and Pat Buchanan joined
6930-599: The city and shipped via the Great Lakes. The city became a center of fine wood products as well. By the end of the century, it was established as the premier furniture-manufacturing city of the United States. It was the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia that brought attention to Grand Rapids' furniture on the national stage, providing a new growing industry to help the city recover from
7040-486: The city of Grand Rapids' area totaled 10.5 square miles (27 km ). Through the 1850s, the land containing forty-six Indian mounds located on the west side between Bridge Street and the Grand River to the south were sold by the United States government, with the mounds being destroyed to fill low-lying land in the area while the Native American artifacts contained within were taken or sold to museums, including
7150-536: The city's southeast side, is 104 acres (42 ha). It is home to over 44 acres (18 ha) of public-access nature trails, a 60-acre (24 ha), restricted-access wildlife preserve, as well as the Bunker Interpretive Center, which hosts university classes and educational programs for the wider community. The Blandford Nature Center, located on the city's northwest side, opened in 1968 and contains extensive nature trails, an animal hospital, and
7260-566: The city, river and surrounding area. The Pantlind Hotel's original architects, Warren & Wetmore, were inspired by the work of the Scottish neoclassical architect Robert Adam . In its prime, the hotel was rated as one of the top ten hotels in the US. The hotel features several restaurants well known in Grand Rapids. The hotel is owned by Amway Hotel Collection, a subsidiary of Amway's holding company Alticor . Other prominent large buildings include
7370-533: The city. The city's Gerald R. Ford International Airport and Gerald R. Ford Freeway are named after him. After the French established territories in Michigan, Jesuit missionaries and traders traveled down Lake Michigan and its tributaries. In 1806, white trader Joseph La Framboise and his Métis wife, Madeline La Framboise , traveled by canoe from Mackinac Island and established the first trading post in West Michigan in present-day Grand Rapids on
7480-400: The end of the exhibition. The 2014 ArtPrize competition ran from September 24 to October 12. ArtPrize 2014 official participation numbers: The public vote determined three $ 20,000 category winners and a $ 200,000 grand prize winner. The grand prize winner does not receive $ 20,000 for their category win. The jury awarded five $ 20,000 category winners and a $ 200,000 grand prize winner. There
7590-438: The entire populated portion of the city lying on the west side of the river was completely underwater, over twenty-five hundred houses, affecting fourteen thousand persons, being completely surrounded. On March 28, the river registered at 19.6 feet (6.0 m), more than two feet (0.61 m) above its highest previous mark. More than one-hundred years later, the 2013 Grand Rapids flood occurred from April 12 to 25, 2013, with
7700-503: The event, with 334,219 total votes cast throughout the 19 days. ArtPrize 2009 official participation numbers: The 2009 prizes, totaling to $ 449,000, were: On October 1, the top 10 entries were announced, and their ranking was announced October 8: Two previously unannounced awards were handed out: The 2010 event took place from September 22 to October 10. The event introduced "Exhibition Centers," local cultural institutions featuring professional curation. Each ArtPrize Exhibition Center
7810-586: The federal government to survey the Grand River Valley in the fall of 1830 and in the first quarter of 1831. The federal survey of the Northwest Territory reached the Grand River, with Lyon using a surveyor's compass and chain to set the boundaries for Kent County, named after prominent New York jurist James Kent . In 1833, a land office was established in White Pigeon, Michigan , with Campau and fellow settler Luther Lincoln seeking land in
7920-478: The first frame structure in Grand Rapids, which is now where McKay Tower stands. Guild later became the postmaster, with mail at the time being delivered monthly from the Gull Lake, Michigan to Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids in 1833 was only a few acres of land cleared on each side of the Grand River, with oak trees planted in light, sandy soil standing between what is now Lyon Street and Fulton Street. By 1834,
8030-405: The first town meeting that had nine voters. It was also this year Campau began constructing his own frame building—the largest at the time—near present-day Rosa Parks Circle. In 1835, many settlers arrived in the area with the population growing to about 50 people, including its first doctor, Dr. Wilson, who was supplied with equipment from Campau. Lucius Lyon , using his knowledge from surveying
8140-410: The funding of controversial artists, others argued the endowment was wasteful and elitist. However, despite massive budget cutbacks and the end of grants to individual artists, Gingrich ultimately failed in his push to eliminate the endowment. The budget outline submitted by then-president Donald Trump on March 16, 2017, to Congress would have eliminated all funding for the program. Congress approved
8250-614: The governmental and labor structure of the city. With businesses upset with Mayor Ellis for supporting the strike lobbied for the city to change from a twelve-ward government – which more accurately represented the city's ethnic groups – to a smaller three ward system that placed more power into the demands of Dutch citizens, the city's largest demographic. Some workers who participated in the strike were blacklisted by companies and thousands of dissatisfied furniture workers emigrated to higher paying regions. Shifting from its furniture-centric industry, downtown Grand Rapids temporarily became
8360-665: The grant money in question, though the case would make its way to the United States Supreme Court in National Endowment for the Arts v. Finley . The case centered on subsection (d)(1) of 20 U.S.C. § 954 which provides that the NEA Chairperson shall ensure that artistic excellence and artistic merit are the criteria by which applications are judged. The court ruled in 524 U.S. 569 (1998), that Section 954(d)(1)
8470-657: The group returning to the Carey Mission for the Potawatomi on the St. Joseph River . The government worker stayed into 1824 to establish a blacksmith shop, though the shop was burned down by the Odawa. Later in May 1824, Baptist missionary Reverend Leonard Slater traveled with two settlers to Grand Rapids to perform missionary work, though the group began to return to the Carey Mission after only three days due to threats. While
8580-412: The group was returning, they encountered Chief Noonday who asked for the group to stay and establish a mission, believing that the Odawa adapting to European customs was the only chance for them to stay in the area. The winter of 1824 was difficult, with Slater's group having to resupply and return before the spring. Chief Noonday, deciding to be an example for the Odawa, chose to be baptized by Slater in
8690-713: The hotel features photography from one of the cities, which is unique to that floor. Cityscapes of these five cities are alternated in order, up the 23 floors. The city's tallest building is the River House Condominiums , a 34-story (123.8 m) condominium tower completed in 2008 that stands as the tallest all-residential building in the state of Michigan. Grand Rapids is also home to two large urban nature centers. The Calvin Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens, operated by Calvin University on
8800-474: The intersection of what is now Watson Street and National Avenue, with Chief Black Skin – known by his native name recorded as Muck-i-ta-oska or Mukatasha (from Makadewazhe or Mkadewzhe , "Have Black Skin") and was son of Chief Noonday – leading the village. In 1820, General Lewis Cass , who was on his way to negotiate the first Treaty of Chicago with a group of 42 men, commissioned Charles Christopher Trowbridge to establish missions for Native Americans in
8910-475: The language embodied in the Williams-Coleman substitute prevailed and subsequently became law. Though this controversy inspired congressional debate about appropriations to the NEA, including proposed restrictions on the content of NEA-supported work and their grantmaking guidelines, efforts to defund the NEA failed. Conservative media continued to attack individual artists whose NEA-supported work
9020-441: The late 19th and early 20th century, and a Polish neighborhood developed on the west side of the city. By the early twentieth century, the quality of furniture produced in Grand Rapids was renowned throughout furniture industry, mainly due to the skill of its workers. Government reports in 1907 revealed that while Grand Rapids lead the industry in product output, its furniture workers were paid lower wages than in other areas. After
9130-467: The late fall and winter, delayed heating in the spring, delayed cooling in fall, somewhat moderated temperatures during winter and lake effect snow . The city averages 75.6 in (192 cm) of snow a year, making it one of the snowiest major cities in the United States. The area often receives quick and sudden lake effect snowstorms , producing significant amounts of snowfall. The months of March, April, October and November are transitional months and
9240-417: The man left, only to return at dusk when Joseph, who faithfully performed the ritual of Angelus every day at that time, was in prayer. Nequat stabbed the trader, fatally wounding him, leaving Joseph's wife, Magdelaine, a widow at age twenty-four. The next spring, a delegation from the Potawatomi tribe brought the offender, Nequat, before Magdelaine for her sentence upon him for the death of her husband. It
9350-465: The moniker "River City" in their names. The city and surrounding communities are economically diverse, based in the health care , information technology , automotive , aviation , and consumer goods manufacturing industries, among others. Grand Rapids was the childhood home of U.S. President Gerald Ford , who is buried with his wife Betty on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in
9460-697: The most-attended "big ticket" art events (those where visitors are often counted more than once), with ArtPrize's attendance of 440,000 being roughly one quarter of the 1.6 million who attended the Russian Imperial Costume exhibition at the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg . ArtPrize was highlighted along with Slows Bar BQ and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park as one of
9570-552: The northwest side of present-day Grand Rapids near Bridge Street with about 500 Odawa, though the population would grow to over 1,000 on occasion. During the War of 1812 , Noonday was allied with Tecumseh during the Battle of the Thames . Tecumseh was killed in this battle, and Noonday inherited his tomahawk and hat. A second village existed lower down the river with its center located at
9680-429: The population. Of the 72,126 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.1% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
9790-642: The reasons to visit Grand Rapids in The New York Times’ "52 Places To Go in 2016." In 2018, ArtPrize announced the Project exhibition to showcase larger works and planned to hold ArtPrize every other year, though the Project 1 event in 2019 experienced substantially less visitors. The twelfth ArtPrize was postponed in 2020 with officials citing the COVID-19 pandemic . The 2022 event ran from September 15 to October 2, 2022, with many visitors criticizing
9900-592: The river cresting at 21.85 feet (6.66 m) on the 21st, causing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes and over $ 10 million in damage. The city skyline shows the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel , formerly the Pantlind, which reopened in 1981 after extensive renovations by Marvin DeWinter & Associates. This work included the addition of a 29–story glass tower offering panoramic views of
10010-431: The river. The countryside surrounding the metropolitan area consists of mixed forest and farmland, with large areas of orchards to the northwest. It is approximately 25 mi (40 km) east of Lake Michigan . The state capital of Lansing lies about 70 mi (110 km) to the east-by-southeast, and Kalamazoo is about 50 mi (80 km) to the south. Grand Rapids is divided into four quadrants , which form
10120-434: The settlement had become more organized. Rev. Turner had established a school on the east side of the river, with children on the west side of the river being brought to school every morning by a Native American on a canoe who would shuttle them across the river. Multiple events happened at Guild's frame structure, including the first marriage in the city, one that involved his daughter Harriet Guild and Barney Burton, as well as
10230-509: The settlement in 1836. Ball declared the Grand River valley "the promised land, or at least the most promising one for my operations". That year, the first steamboat was constructed on the Grand River named the Gov. Mason , though the ship wrecked two years later in Muskegon. Yankee migrants (primarily English-speaking settlers) and others began migrating from New York and New England through
10340-403: The smaller scale of works present. ArtPrize was conceived by Rick DeVos as an untraditional art contest with its goals being: any artist in the world could compete; anyone with property in downtown Grand Rapids could turn their space into a venue; and any visitor could vote for their favorite artwork. Event organizers would provide no selection committees or curators. And the largest cash prize in
10450-470: The trade business, expanding fur trading posts to the west and north, creating a good reputation among the American Fur Company . La Framboise, whose mother was Odawa and father French, later merged her successful operations with the American Fur Company. By 1810, Chief Noonday , or Nowaquakezick, an Odawa chief, established the village of Bock-a-tinck (from Baawiting , "at the rapids") on
10560-413: The twentieth century; in 1870 there were eight factories employing 280 workers and by 1911, Old National Bank wrote that about 8,500 were employed by forty-seven factories. At least a third of the workers in Grand Rapids were employed by furniture companies. The Grand Rapids Furniture Record was the trade paper for the city's industry. Its industries provided jobs for many new immigrants from Europe in
10670-456: The village chief and Chief Noonday being the chief of the Odawa. The first permanent European-American settler in the Grand Rapids area was Isaac McCoy , a Baptist minister. In 1823, McCoy, Paget, a Frenchman who brought along a Native American pupil, and a government worker traveled to Grand Rapids from Carey Mission near present-day Niles, Michigan to arrange a mission they called the "Thomas Mission", though negotiations fell through with
10780-527: The weather can vary. March has experienced a record high of 87 °F (31 °C) and record low of −13 °F (−25 °C). The average last frost date in spring is May 1, and the average first frost in fall is October 11, giving the area a growing season of 162 days. The city is in plant hardiness zone 6a, while outlying areas are 5b. Some far western suburbs closer to the insulating effect of Lake Michigan are in zone 6b. Summers are warm or hot, and heat waves and severe weather outbreaks are common during
10890-584: Was "one of the most important and delightful to be found in the country," and described the changing Native American culture in the area. By 1838, the settlement incorporated as a village, and encompassed approximately .75 square miles (1.9 km ). An outcropping of gypsum , where Plaster Creek enters the Grand River, was known to the Native American inhabitants of the area. Pioneer geologist Douglass Houghton commented on this find in 1838. Settlers began to mine this outcrop in 1841, initially in open cast mines , but later underground mines as well. Gypsum
11000-400: Was 11 °F (−12 °C). Summer nights influenced by the lake can be hot and muggy on occasion. The warmest night on record was 82 °F (28 °C) in 1902 and lows above 72 °F (22 °C) have been measured in every month between April and October. On average, the warmest low of the year stood at 74 °F (23 °C) for the 1991–2020 normals. The most recent record set was
11110-616: Was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.20. National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts ( NEA ) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government by an act of the U.S. Congress , signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 29, 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 951). It
11220-657: Was a tie for the grand prize, so each winner received $ 100,000. A first in ArtPrize history, the Grand Prize Jury recognized two outstanding works—splitting the $ 200,000 Juried Grand Prize. This is also the first time the opinions of both the voting public and the jury of art experts converged, awarding a top prize to one piece – Intersections by Anila Quayyum Agha. The 2015 ArtPrize (also known as ArtPrize Seven) competition ran from September 23 to October 11. ArtPrize 2015 official participation numbers: The public vote determined three $ 12,500 category winners and
11330-410: Was also the recipient of a $ 100,000 Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts . ArtPrize 2011 official participation numbers: The 2011 prizes, which were decided by public vote, totaled $ 449,000, were: On September 30, the 2010 Top 10 entries were announced, and their rankings were revealed during the Winners Announcement on October 6: In addition to awards distributed as a result of
11440-605: Was an entry that placed magnetic flowers on the Alexander Calder sculpture La Grande Vitesse . After getting complaints, the City of Grand Rapids contacted the Calder Foundation to get their input. Calder's grandson, Alexander S. C. Rower, replied: "The initiative is luckily temporary and reflects an utter lack of understanding and respect of Calder's genius." The city decided to have the flowers removed before
11550-535: Was deemed controversial. The "NEA Four", Karen Finley , Tim Miller , John Fleck , and Holly Hughes , were performance artists whose proposed grants from the United States government's National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) were vetoed by John Frohnmayer in June 1990. Grants were overtly vetoed on the basis of subject matter after the artists had successfully passed through a peer review process. The artists won their case in court in 1993 and were awarded amounts equal to
11660-410: Was ground locally for use as a soil amendment known as "land plaster." The first formal census in 1845 recorded a population of 1,510 and an area of 4 square miles (10 km ). The city of Grand Rapids was incorporated April 2, 1850. It was officially established on May 2, 1850, when the village of Grand Rapids voted to accept the proposed city charter. The population at the time was 2,686. By 1857,
11770-426: Was important. Frank Hodsoll became the chairman of the NEA in 1981, and while the department's budget decreased from $ 158.8 million in 1981 to $ 143.5 million, by 1989 it was $ 169.1 million, the highest it had ever been. In 1989, Donald Wildmon of the American Family Association held a press conference attacking what he called "anti-Christian bigotry," in an exhibition by photographer Andres Serrano . The work at
11880-465: Was printed on April 18, 1837, describing the village's attributes, stating: Though young in its improvements, the site of this village has long been known and esteemed for its natural advantages. It was here that the Indian traders long since made their great depot. The Grand River Times continued, saying the village had grown quickly from a few French families to about 1,200 residents, the Grand River
11990-404: Was required to host voter registration/activation as well as a retail presence. ArtPrize sought to have at least one Exhibition Center in each downtown Grand Rapids neighborhood. ArtPrize 2010 official participation numbers: The 2010 prizes, which were decided by public vote, totaled $ 449,000, were: On September 30, the 2010 Top 10 entries were announced, and their rankings were revealed during
12100-444: Was their tradition for the victim's family to avenge deaths within that tribe. Magdelaine refused to sentence him and, in an act of forgiveness, told the Potawatomi tribe members to let him go and that God would be his judge. Though Magdelaine had forgiven Nequat, the tribe had not. Nequat's body was found stabbed with his own knife the next season. After Joseph's murder while en route to Grand Rapids, Magdelaine La Framboise carried on
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