Charter Schools Office welcomes students, student art to ArtPrize

The Grand Valley State University Charter Schools Office (CSO) is giving students from Grand Valley-authorized charter schools the opportunity to visit ArtPrize and take part in the competition.

The Grand Valley CSO is bringing in more than 2,000 students from about 20 schools across the state to take part in four ArtPrize education days. The program, currently in its second year, allows students to spend a day in Grand Rapids viewing ArtPrize submissions and recreate one of the entries, which they will take home at the end of the day. The events will be held in the L.V. Eberhard Center on Grand Valley’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

“The Charter Schools Office is proud to give students, especially those who have never visited Grand Rapids or been to ArtPrize, a unique experience that is entertaining as well as educational,” said Amirah Vosburgh, the CSO’s manager of programs and marketing.  

The Grand Valley CSO is also hosting a display tent that showcases ArtPrize entries created by students from Grand Valley-authorized charter schools.

The entries come from groups of students, ranging from third-grade to high school, representing four schools. Three of the schools, including William C. Abney Charter Academy, Excel Charter Academy and Black River Public School, are located in West Michigan. The fourth school, University Prep Science & Math High School, is based in Detroit. The students from each school teamed up with a professional artist to create their projects. Works include decorated three-dimensional pieces representing the inspiration students found in poems and a mixed-media sculpture made from recycled tires and metal. The art is currently on display between the L.V. Eberhard Center and the blue footbridge and will remain available for viewing until the end of ArtPrize.