More Art Upstairs (2017)

A revolution is taking place in the art world and it isnt happening in Paris Berlin or Hong Kongbut in Grand Rapids Michigan ArtPrize is the most highly attended art show in the world and it awards cash prizes larger than all other competitions combined International critics and general crowds pack bars galleries and abandoned buildings all over town taking in over 1500 works from cerebral conceptualists and weekend hobbyists An acclaimed jury awards a winner 200000 and the ballotcarrying public does the same Nimble cameras follow four artists each vying not only for critical recognition but for every public vote they can drum up Part classy game show part engaging art exploration More Art Upstairs captures the debates ArtPrize has intentionally or inadvertently triggered Can culture be democratized Do artists need or want to connect with audiences And is the canonical art establishment on its way out Myrocia Watamaniuk