[ArtPrize and Project 1 - Grand Rapids]

I went back and reread all the articles, and none of Rick's representatives said this would "change Grand Rapids for all time." It was mentioned that:

) it would "connect Grand Rapids with the world like it has never been connected before" - sure, from an art publicity standpoint, I'd buy that. Meijer Gardens has done much of the same thing.

) it would be "an extremely large scale event": 3 square miles of downtown, and about 20 times larger than Festival, that sounds pretty large scale (HUGE) to me.

) "It is expected to be part of ongoing efforts by local leaders to project a progressive, hip image of Grand Rapids that will make it a more attractive place for young, creative people to live and work.": that's certainly debateable, but there are studies that tie "quality of life" metrics to population/job growth. And this is looked at as one "piece" of that, as directly quoted from one of the reps. A+B=C or E=mc2

) "This will be a huge event, world-class,": The prize purse certainly sets the stage for world-class

) "It will effect Grand Rapids for years to come": I'm assuming the goal is to do this annually, for "years to come"

Unless someone has any pieces of info that are contrary to this.

I'm not sure how to respond. It seems like you're agreeing with the naysayers.

[ArtPrize and Project 1 - Grand Rapids]

Out of curiosity, do you think that SXSW moves the needle for Austin? Just trying to gauge where your coming from.

And no I'm not saying that this is equal to SXSW, however SXSW did not start out as the mega-event that is currently...

I believe SXSW does make a difference to Austin. I'm not sure I've ever heard someone say they going to look at the art though. Maybe in 10 years this will evolve into something of that magnitude, but that has to be the best of best-of-case scenarios.

Here's my point and why you're getting a backlash from some people: If you were to stand up and say that any altogether positive but to the average person uninteresting event is going to change Grand Rapids for all time, people are going to roll their eyes and probably have a negative reaction to the news in general. This is what is happening. It takes a lot of faith to have the that type of enthusiasm. Don't be offended because people don't share yours.

Edit-I do realize that the organizers aren't pumping this up that huge. But their reps from Seyferth certainly have and so are the people on this forum (I think HUGE was used a couple of times).

[ArtPrize and Project 1 - Grand Rapids]

I don't personally believe this will be a negative PR-15, but I could certainly make a case for one.

Let me give it a try:

-Big stir arises when controversial art piece catches ire of religious right in Grand Rapids. Or less likely, DeVos foundation refuses to award prize money to winning pro-choice performance art piece.

-Arival of out of area artists puts local artists out of business.

-Someone realizes that this money was all foundation funds and could have been spent, on you know, charitable stuff.

-Facility commitment displaces a long-running ethnic festival.

-Community starving for positive news is further jaded by art show publicized as economic engine.

Now I'm not saying any of that stuff will happen, but I believe they are all in the realm of possibility.

[ArtPrize and Project 1 - Grand Rapids]

It's easy being a naysayer. Whatever happens, you either get to say "I told you so", or people are so happy with the results they don't care what you said before.

Actually, I think it's very hard being a naysayer. It's easy to get excited about these things and to start daydreaming about how awesome it'll all be. You've got it totally backward. You get to say I told you so when it goes right and no one remembers all the jokers who pumped up the mystery development or the downtown condo market or the emperor's new clothes.

But I also don't think anyone is saying ArtPrize is a bad thing for Grand Rapids. Let the DeVos family spend their money. I think people are disagreeing on whether it will move the needle. If you were to say that this contest is going to raise the awareness of Grand Rapids to the arts community and draw some daytrippers, I'd certainly agree with you. I don't think the fact that I'm not doing a happy dance about this makes me a naysayer. It makes me realistic.

[ArtPrize and Project 1 - Grand Rapids]

And DSchoon, check google again. The hits keep racking up:

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=artpriz...;fp=RgodfiivdiU

Wow. Golly. West Michigan is abuzz. And there are all these hits from this thing called PRnewswire.

I believe my comment was that there weren't any blog entries outside of West Michigan at 9:20 a.m. this morning. Still true far as I can tell. I'm sure that will change in the next few hours/days, so don't feel the need to feed me updates.

[ArtPrize and Project 1 - Grand Rapids]

I'm sure there will be a ton of entries, but I'm a little perplexed about what has everyone thinking this is going to generate a huge amount of traffic into Grand Rapids. Even if it turns out to be a three-week death match between the world's best living artists I can't see it being that big of a draw. Maybe I'm underestimating the global arts community, but I can't see that many people planning a trip around this. The Dead Sea Scrolls were a huge deal and that was just a blip in traffic.

I hope I'm wrong.

[ArtPrize and Project 1 - Grand Rapids]

Let me say that this is a BIIIIGGGG deal!

How big? Not sure, yet. But it is big!!!

How fast does news travel these days? Well, I have two buddies that live in NYC who have artists in their families. I have received 3 emails already about where to stay in Grand Rapids WHEN THEY COME HERE!!!! They have never been to Michigan, much less the midwest! They told me that the artist community in NYC is absolutely buzzing about this thing. And I quote his email:"...the blogs are blowing up out here! Are you serious: 250K for first place?!"

It is 9:23 am as I write this and already it has made it to the East Coast. I am not by any means connected to the arts community. The fact that I am receiving emails about this is just crazy... and, for that matter, pretty cool!

Yeah, this is an awesome thing! If you work downtown, this is going to be a great thing to get involved in! I am sure that there are some that wanted some bricks and mortar. But this is so much cooler!

Way to go, Rick. And good luck! You actually surprised me today!

There have been a number of times where I can't help thinking that you're a PR plant. I know there are a couple of folks on here that post about their stuff anonymously and I always thought you were one of them. But you got the number wrong so I guess you must be legit. I looked for five minutes and couldn't find a single blog entry from outside of the region, nothing on twitter either. I don't get it.

For my money, this is a cool little project but I can't see it being any more meaningful to the local economy than any of the other events we have. Maybe it'll raise awareness among the artistic community, but I think it'd be in the way that Herman Miller raises awareness of Zeeland. There was actually an international sculpture festival here last fall, anyone remember that?

I really wonder how Festival of the Arts is looking at this. I have a hard time seeing how another major arts event could be a good thing for them.

[Events Kiosk]

ART AROUND TOWN

UICA

[Gallery on Fulton]

30-40% vacancy rate? Depending on how you define that, I have a hard time believing that it is so high. There doesn't seem to be a huge amount of vacant storefronts on the beaten path, although a lot of those are office tenants. When I was researching downtown retail last year, there was actually a number of complaints about a shortage of space for certain tenant requirements. Full-service restaurants and bars, in particular, were having trouble finding good spots.

[Gallery on Fulton]

I really like that they are making some plain old apartments- what a prime area for young (and not-so-young) professionals to give downtown living a try without having to commit to a purchase agreement. When I moved to West Michigan, I had trouble finding many downtown GR apartments that were not low-income-only (outside of about two available apartments at the time, the only available ones had a mile-long waiting list). This economy lends itself well to the apartment life; moreover, SSP can just turn it into condos if demand so dictates.

Here, here.

The Zimmerman Volk study a long time ago suggested that there was a need for mid-range rental space downtown. I'm going from memory, but I think there is a strong possibility the condo demand (with data, relating to GRDad's point, from when the state was at least above water in the toilet) was eaten up by a handful of early developments, River House and the several hundred converted apartment units.

Allowing that a lot of condos are now rentals, I'm guessing there might be a shortage of quality apartments downtown.

I also wonder if peopel might be souring on condo developments to some degree. I've heard some horror stories about association housing developments in the burbs.

[Gallery on Fulton]

Yeah, that one. I see a building under renovation. What exactly do you see?

The same thing. Unfinished.

[Gallery on Fulton]

Did you happen to go to the Lunch & Learn and see the fantastic model? The Fitzgerald is going to be an amazing transformation once finished and a real jewel in downtown living...

I didn't go, no. But I am very familiar with the project. The original plan looked very nice, too.

Do you know anyone that has bought one? I don't.

[Gallery on Fulton]

Have faith people, Sam Cummings hasn't failed us yet (the RSC/SSP renovation of the YMCA is fantastic. I can't imagine that the same partnership would plop down something that is horrible).

Honestly though, minus some balconies, I wouldn't mind seeing a building much like the tower represented. Sleak and transparent. Just cover up that parking ramp.

Do you mean the Fitzgerald? I think the jury is still out on that one, all I see is building with no windows. But I have to agree, this just can't be what it would look like. If the UICA comes through, they're not going to want a building that looks like an airplane hangar. And the historic people would tear it apart.

[Gallery on Fulton]

It leaks? Yeah, that's a problem for an art gallery.

Does UICA want to be mainstream? I always kind of thought they were the anti-GRAM.

[Gallery on Fulton]

How is being at the intersection of Division and Fulton terrible compared to where UICA is at now? Division and Fulton is a busy gateway into Downtown so the exposure would be awsome. Added to that, the Heartside stretch of Division is being made into the Avenue of the Arts. Who better to have anchoring that avenue than UICA?

On the flip side of that, what is wrong with the UICA's current location? It's basically on the Avenue of the Arts already and closer to the avant garde section of it than this would be. The current spot is a really great facility and they don't have to worry about becoming the mainstream draw they would need to become to support a cornerstone development.

[People talking about Grand Rapids]

So we essentially got all excited here about an article a more or less local (Michigan) freelance writer managed to sell to the New York Times. Nothing wrong with that I suppose but the process I had pictured was the national editor of the Times somehow getting wind of rumors of big stuff happening in Grand Rapids then sending one of their crack staff reporters out to the hinterlands to find the scoop.

Actually, I think this guy was writing for the G. R. Press in the not too distant past. I'm not completely sure of that, but I know he's worked locally.