Grand Rapids, MI – The bus names were themselves a regional geography lesson as they brought about 1800 students from dozens of schools across the county to participate in the Artprize event currently underway in downtown Grand Rapids.  Middle and High School students rotated through four “stations,” completing assignments in humanities and art.

 ArtPrize is the public art experiment founded by Rick DeVos, grandson of an Amway Corporation founder, now drawing thousands of visitors to view and interact with the works of more than 1000 artists.  The educational component, called ARTcation, was developed by a group of local cultural organizations.  The group seeks to bring innovative learning experiences together with art education for students within the ISD. 

 Kent ISD helped promote this opportunity to teachers, coordinated the registrations and developed a career pathways teaching resource for the event.  The cultural organizations include the Grand Rapids Public Library, the Grand Rapids Area Council for the Humanities, Grand Valley State University, the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Art Museum and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts.

 According to a participating teacher, “The students were given a wide range of useful information.  The impact it made on the students will be far reaching.  … (T)hese opportunities are little jewels for learning and encouragement.”