By Dana Kroll, Uptown Marketing and Communications Specialist
Grand Rapids, Tuesday, September 9, 2025: Uptown GR, Inc. invites the community to join the official start to ArtPrize 2025 in its district, with a vibrant “kickoff” celebration. The event will take place on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at one of the City’s most impressive soon-to-be fully rehabilitated historical venues, Hermitage at Diamond which is celebrating its 150th anniversary, setting the stage for this year’s Uptown ArtPrize experience. ArtPrize celebrations will continue throughout its four business districts (Eastown, East Hills, Wealthy Street, and East Fulton), for the duration of the full event. This year, 33 businesses across Uptown will host artists. ArtPrize 2025 runs through October 4, 2025.
Kickoff guests will enjoy an early evening filled with art, performances, and community activities, including:
• Live performances from Folias Duo, Arts in Motion, Vespa, Great Lakes Brass, and UptownPoem
• Official ArtPrize entries from local and national artists
• A district-wide scavenger hunt (which will run through the full duration of ArtPrize)
• Delicious offerings from local food trucks
• A community-collaborative mural painting project
“This kickoff event is the perfect way to celebrate our district’s second season of ArtPrize in Uptown. We are delighted to invite our neighbors and visitors of all ages to experience the creativity and energy of Uptown while we also showcase incredible talent and celebrate the launch of ArtPrize 2025 together,” says Ingrid Miller, Executive Director.
Full Details:
• What: Uptown Grand Rapids ArtPrize Kickoff 2025 (FB event page)
• When: Thursday, September 18, 2025
• Where: Hermitage at Diamond, Grand Rapids, MI
• Cost: Free and open to the public
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Uptown consists of four business districts: Eastown, East Fulton, Wealthy Street, and East Hills. The district is also home to five residential neighborhoods: Baxter, East Hills, Eastown, Fulton Heights, and Midtown. In all climates, UGRI celebrates its mission: to bring together people, partnerships, and possibilities to sustain a strong and vibrant urban district through planning, coordinating, and communicating with and between all sectors of the Uptown community and beyond.
For more information about this and all things Uptown, please contact Ingrid Miller.