Pitch Night Arizona
ArtWins Arizona and Flagstaff Arts Council are teaming up to host Pitch Night Arizona— a one-night event where an Arizona artist will leave with a $15,000 grant to create an ambitious outdoor installation in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids during the eleventh ArtPrize event this Fall, September 16 – October 3, 2021.
ArtPrize is one of the world’s largest art competitions. It is also the most attended public art event in the world, routinely attracting over 500,000 visitors. The Pitch Night Arizona winner will also become eligible to receive a portion of an additional $250,000 in cash prizes awarded by ArtPrize to participating artists at this year’s event.
After the conclusion of ArtPrize 2021, the winning outdoor installation will be installed in Flagstaff at a location to be determined by the artist, Flagstaff Arts Council and ArtWins Arizona.
The competition is open to all artists residing anywhere in Arizona.
Questions about Pitch Night Arizona should be directed to info@artwins.org
Entries should be submitted on or before June 13, 2021 to https://flagstaffartscouncil.submittable.com/submit
How it Works
Arizona artists are invited to submit proposals for a featured outdoor installation at 50 Monroe, in Grand Rapids, Michigan at ArtPrize 2021. This featured location is reserved for the winning Arizona artist. Artists may make submissions for art in any medium. Five artists will be selected to give a five-minute presentation to a panel of six expert judges. The panel of judges will view all the presentations, then ask follow-up questions of the artists. The panel will select the winner, awarding the winning artist a $15,000 grant to realize their proposal at 50 Monroe during ArtPrize 2021. The Arizona winner will also be eligible to receive a portion of an additional $250,000 prize money awarded by ArtPrize. The Pitch Night finals event will be broadcast live online, with details to follow.
Submit Your Proposal
Submissions are now being accepted for Pitch Night Arizona through June 13, 2021. Find complete details on the 2021 proposal process below.
Event Info
Five finalists will be selected on or prior to June 17, 2021.
The Pitch Night Arizona finals will take place on June 29, 2021 at 7 p.m.
The event is planned to take place virtually.
Judges
Sandra Bassett, President & CEO, West Valley Arts
Mary Kershaw, Executive Director & CEO, Museum of Northern Arizona
Duane Koyawena, Artist and Board member, Flagstaff Arts Council
Julio Cesar Morales, Curator, ASU Art Museum
Katie Moore, Senior Exhibitions Manager, ArtPrize
Kim Van Driel, Director of Public Space Management, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.
PRESENTED AND UNDERWRITTEN BY:
ADDITIONAL UNDERWRITING SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:
More Details
How to apply?
Between now and June 13, 2021, Arizona artists must submit a proposal (maximum 500 words), an artist CV, and up to five images, all through the submission website at https://flagstaffartscouncil.submittable.com/submit. Give us an idea of what you’d present at Pitch Night, and how you would like to activate 50 Monroe. Questions can be sent to info@artwins.org.
Who may apply?
ArtPrize is open to any artist working in any medium, but Pitch Night Arizona is only for artists currently living anywhere in the State of Arizona. All ArtPrize eligibility rules apply. Artists must be 18, and collaborative groups are welcome. There are more eligibility requirements in the Artist Rules on the ArtPrize website at www.artprize.org.
What should a pitch presentation include?
If you’re one of the five artists selected to present to the judges, you’ll have five minutes to make your pitch —the details are up to you. Be entertaining and informative. Be prepared to answer the judges’ questions. Above all, you’ll need to convince the judges that your project is the best, and that the $15,000 grant will help make it possible.
What happens if my pitch wins?
Several things. One, we’ll register you as an artist on artprize.org at no cost (normally registering as an artist costs $50). We’ll connect you with 50 Monroe, because every artist in ArtPrize must be officially connected to a venue on artprize.org. We’ll give you the $15,000 as a lump sum. It’s up to you how you use those funds to install the artwork (materials, shipping, travel, etc.). You’ll then work with an installation coordinator to work out the details of installing the work before ArtPrize begins on September 16, 2021.
What space is available at 50 Monroe?
Located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, 50 MONROE has been at the epicenter of ArtPrize every year over the last decade. Artists will have the opportunity to activate the concrete pad in a new and dynamic way for ArtPrize 2021. The Monroe/Louis corner is in front of the modern AC Hotel by Marriott, across the street from the Grand Rapids Art Museum and Rosa Parks Circle, and in close proximity to local hot spots such as Studio Park, Monroe Center, and many other cultural attractions in the city. Artists may not exceed the 17’ x 22’ footprint of the concrete pad, and artists may not drill into the concrete pad – it must be a freestanding installation. As the art will be installed in an outdoor location, it must be able to withstand Michigan weather in the Fall, including potential wind and rain. It must be able to exist outdoors for the entire 19-day duration of ArtPrize.
Images of the site are below. Please contact info@artwins.org for more information. Higher resolution images are available on request.
The art installation and anchors shown in the photographs below are not currently present on the pad.
Overhead view of the site.
