Our educator guides (coming soon) include classroom lessons and are an in-depth tool for educators to explore contemporary art practices and the large-scale public art at Project 1. Our lesson plans apply national art standards, create cross-curricular connections and emphasize research-based artmaking centered on big ideas.

• Grades K-5 Big Idea: Community
• Grades 6-8 Big Idea: Place
• Grades 9-12 Big Idea: Access

We’re creating a series of videos for schools and visitors that will provide an in-depth look at each Project 1 artist’s process and practice. Stay tuned, videos will be available soon.

Register your classroom for a FREE guided tour of Project 1. Our education staff and volunteer guides will help you explore Project 1 artwork in downtown Grand Rapids through these interactive tours — providing insight into the artmaking process, a look behind-the-scenes at the installation process, an exploration of theme connections and more. Guided tours will include a free student gift.

Registration opens early August.

• Planning Sessions. Our education team is available to help your school group create a self-guided Project 1 experience, answering questions about bus parking, drop-off locations, custom walking routes, itineraries and more. Contact education@artprize.org .
• Bus Parking. Information on bus parking locations is coming soon.
• Spark a Conversation. This is the go to tool to help guide students in conversations about works of art.
• Museum Tours. Book a tour with one of the great arts and cultural institutions of Grand Rapids during your field trip. Please note that most tours are fee-based. Click here for more details.
• Project 1 Artist Cards. These fun collectable cards include a creative challenge based on each Project 1 artist. Activities can be can be done in the classroom or at home. Coming soon.

Transportation grants up to $500 (applications coming soon) are available to educators to help offset their school’s transportation costs to Project 1. Grants are limited and awarded on a first-come, first served basis.

STEAM

• Amanda Browder (Math)
• Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (Technology)
• Paul Amenta & Ted Lott (Universal Design)

English Language Arts

• Heather Hart (Personal Narratives)
• Amanda Browder (Storytelling)

Social Studies

• Paul Amenta & Ted Lott (Access)
• Olalekan Jeyifous (Housing Discrimination)
• Heather Hart (Questioning Dominant Narratives)

Social Justice

• Paul Amenta & Ted Lott (Access)
• Olalekan Jeyifous (Housing Discrimination)
• Heather Hart (Questioning Dominant Narratives)

Flexible Fence is a collaborative art installation including work of fourth grade students in the Grand Rapids Public School district and installed during Project 1 on the lawn of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The large public sculpture will be a 6-foot tall wooden fence, curving into a loop with two intersecting open circles. While the fence reflects ideas of land use and ownership, the curved line changes the traditional function of property division to create an open space, a space to enter, and an inaccessible space. Student drawings on fabric will cover the fence in a patchwork of visual stories about community inclusion and what it means to belong.

Presented by PNC Bank

Grand Valley State University

Students in selected GVSU authorized charter schools throughout the state will visit Project 1, attend a workshop produced by Grand Valley State University Art Education Program and work throughout the school year to create a student art exhibition that will be on display in the spring of 2020.  Educators will work alongside ArtPrize and GVSU staff to complete a year-long curriculum to foster conceptual thinking and meaningful art making relevant to students’ lives by focusing on Big ideas pulled from the Project 1 exhibition.

·         University Preparatory Art & Design Elementary, Detroit

·         Black River Public School Elementary, Holland

·         Detroit Achievement Academy, Detroit

·         William C. Abney Academy, Grand Rapids

·         Canton Preparatory High School, Canton

·         Crossroads Charter Academy, Big Rapids

Grand Rapids Public Schools

Students in selected schools will attend a guided tour of the Project 1 site located near their school and receive a grant to go towards a student-led art project that will be installed during the 2019/2020 school year. Educators will work alongside ArtPrize and GRPS staff to receive support needed to create a community-based artwork inspired by the theme of Project 1.

• Coit Creative Arts
• Sibley Elementary
• Campus Elementary

Through a partnership with area early childhood providers such as the Grand Rapids Public Schools, Head Start for Kent County and Kent ISD, families and educators will explore a day of art-making and tour the Project 1 downtown site location. Activities will be provided by the following arts and cultural partners: Jewels of Africa, Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, Artists Creating Together, The Air Zoo and many more.

West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology students collaborated with Project 1, Gorilla, and the Mosaic Film Experience to concept and produce a student-led film inspired by the Project 1 theme and site locations.

West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology students enrolled in a teen employment summer program and the Mosaic Film Experience partnered with Project 1 to create a series of interviews of Grand Rapids residents, gathering their stories about belonging.

First Robotics teams are invited to attend a field trip that explores the intersection of art and technology. Selected teams from across Michigan will travel to Grand Rapids, MI to meet artist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Rafael is an electronic artist that develops interactive installations by manipulating technologies such as robotics, computerized surveillance or telematic networks. During the visit, students are also invited to attend opening day festivities for Project 1 by ArtPrize and tour Western Michigan University’s AMP Lab – a maker space for the next generation of engineers, designers and other skilled individuals to cultivate their abilities.

More information coming soon.

More information coming soon.

The ArtPrize organization, Consumers Energy and Grand Rapids Public Schools are partnering for the seventh annual SmartArt competition for high school students, which blended art with sustainability and environmental stewardship. Students were invited to submit work using renewable energy and energy efficiency as themes — to compete for a college scholarship and the chance to have their work displayed during Project 1 by ArtPrize.