In this episode you will hear from Rosalyn Bliss. Bliss was serving as a GR 2nd Ward Commissioner when Rick DeVos first presented the idea of ArtPrize at City Hall. She subsequently served two terms as Mayor of Grand Rapids and has been a champion for ArtPrize since the day she first heard about it.

You will hear how the history of ArtPrize now intertwines with the history of Grand Rapids and how she sees the future of the event.

Stephen Halko serves as Dean of the Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University. In addition to holding a BFA and an MFA, he has been in Grand Rapids for every ArtPrize since it began.
Halko also serves on the ArtPrize steering committee. That experience, and the time he has spent in Grand Rapids gives him a unique perspective on the event as an insider who came from the outside.

Halko is fond of saying, "I am not from Grand Rapids but I got here as soon as I could."

His artist statement on his personal website says:

No one can be certain of too many things.
I am certain my work means something.
I am equally certain I do not know what it is.

Much of that sentiment is reflected in this conversation.

Mark Washington is the City Manager for the City of Grand Rapids. Mark is also a former ArtPrize artist and in his previous role as Assistant City Manager in Austin Texas he was heavily involved in the organization of South By Southwest.

Mark explains the role of the City of GR as well as the need to support artists. This is a fascinating conversation with one of the biggest ArtPrize champions you are likely to hear from.