Artsy Things to Do in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is home to some of the best art museums, public art, and broadway-quality shows in the Midwest! The city is full of vibrant artwork throughout the streets and on the walls of the museums, including the Grand Rapids Art Museum and Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Also, check out a show at one of the many theaters in town including the Civic Theatre, The Wealthy Street Theatre, or Broadway Grand Rapids. Make sure to read this guide of all the artsy things to do in Grand Rapids so you don’t miss a thing!

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Grand Rapids Art Museum

Located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) hosts a vast collection of artwork dating from the 1400s to the present, focusing on European and American paintings, sculptures, and other artwork. This beacon of an art-loving city believes that art is essential for everyone both connecting people and inspiring them. The building in which the museum’s collection is housed is a LEED-certified building and was designed by Munkenbeck+Marshall Architects and Kulapat Yantrasast of WHY Architecture.

GRAM Mission:

Connecting people through art, creativity, and design.

Collection and Exhibits:

The GRAM’s collection is a diverse selection of paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, and more. The collection has over 6,000 objects and it spans over 5,000 years of human art and creativity. Some of the highlighted artists include Alexander Calder, Édouard Manet, Marvis Pusey, Jacob Lawerance, and Mathias J. Alten.

The GRAM also has rotating exhibits throughout the year. To see the most up to date exhibit information, click here.

Admission and Hours:

Hours vary depending on the season. Please visit the GRAM’s website for the most up to date information.

Admission: Adults are $10, seniors and students are $8, youth are $6, and children who are 5 and under are free.

The GRAM also has a wonderful membership program with numerous benefits. Find all the information by clicking here!

GRAM Events:

The Grand Rapids Art Museum also hosts events throughout the year including art workshops, walking tours, live music, member nights, and so much more! See the events calendar by clicking here. You can also rent the GRAM space for private events such as weddings, parties, meetings, and more—click here for more information.

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

Up next on this list of artsy things to do in Grand Rapids is to pay a visit to Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Ranked in the top 100 most visited art museums in the world, the museum has more than 200 works in the permanent collection inside and outside. The main campus of the museum is 158 acres and they’re constantly making improvements and renovating.

The permanent collection has works from established and emerging artists alike. Some of the more well-known artists include Edgar Degas, Auguste Rodin, and Albert-Ernest. Frederik Meijer Gardens also hosts temporary exhibits throughout the year within a large indoor gallery space and several outdoor spaces. In the past, exhibits have been presented by modern artists and honored traditional artists. Several in the past have included Auguste Rodin, Pablo Picasso, and Henry Moore to contemporary artists such as Ai Weiwei, George Segal, Claes Oldenburg, Coosje van Bruggen, Mark di Suvero, Anthony Caro, and Richard Hunt.

Some of the Highlights:

• The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden
• Lena Meijer Children’s Garden
• Michigan’s Farm Garden
• Gwen Frostic Woodland Shade Garden
• Kenneth E. Nelson Carnivorous Plant House
• Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory
• Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse
• Earl and Donnalee Holton Arid Garden
• Earl and Donnalee Holton Victorian Garden Parlor
• Sculpture Collection

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park also holds many events throughout the year including the Summer Concert Series, children events, and more! Find everything at their events calendar by clicking here! You can also hold your own event including weddings, parties, and meetings—get the details by clicking here.

Discover more at their website by clicking here!

Admission and Hours:

• Monday through Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Admission: Adults are $14.50, seniors and students are $11, children ages five to 13 are $7, children ages three to four are $4, and children two and under are free.

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park also has a great membership program that gives you many benefits including free admission, early access to special event tickets, members-only hours, reciprocal entrance to other museums, and so much more. Get all the information by clicking here!

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts

The Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts (UICA) presents modern art, events, and educational programs to visitors of the community. The UICA features artwork from regional, national, and international artists as well as creative films, performance art, and more. They also provide tours, gallery talks, artists’ receptions, lectures, and more. Find the list of their latest exhibits and events by clicking here!

In addition, the UICA has a great educational program for adults, teens, and children. Some of these include Family Days, ArtWorks summer programs for teens, group tours, and more. Get all the details by clicking here. There are also several programs to get more involved with the UICA and give back—including Internships, volunteer programs, artist opportunities, and more. Get all the information by clicking here!

Admission and Hours:

Admission to the UICA is completely free and you can join their membership program for free, as well. Learn more by clicking here.

The UICA is currently in the progress of moving to a new location in the historical Woodbridge N. Ferris building on the campus of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University. They had a soft opening on July 15, 2021. Find all the information by clicking here.

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Hunt for Public Art

Grand Rapids is full of wonderful art all around the vibrant streets and can be found in many neighborhoods! You can find them on the sides of buildings, along walkways, and even on the streets themselves. Grand Rapids is home to hundereds of talented artists who create their art around the city to share with the community. You only need to walk a few blocks to find a beautiful mural or creative art project.

A-Z Project

In 2019, Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. initiated the Rad American Women project which brought 27 female artists to the area to create representations of influential females throughout the city. The project was inspired by “Rad American Women A-Z,” a New York Times bestselling book written by Kate Schatz and illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl. Several of the women whose image were portrayed in the project include Angela Davis, Dolores Huerta, and Ella Baker.

Exit Space Project

The UICA also has several spaces around the city in which public art is encouraged. It’s called the Exit Space Project and is a part of their ongoing community outreach programming. This project attacks talent, both locally and at the national level, bringing great public works and street art to the city. To date, they have curated and installed over 16 murals in Grand Rapids and have plans for several more. Find all the information by clicking here!

Exit Space Project Locations can be found all around the city. For a complete, current list with directions and information about each mural, download the VAMONDE app and search for Grand Rapids Murals by UICA Exit Space Project.

Find a full guide to all of the public art in Grand Rapids from our friends at GRKids by clicking here!

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See a Show!

There are many places to see a wonderful performance in the city of Grand Rapids. Everything from live theatre to ballet to broadway performances. There’s something for everyone to see and enjoy! Check out some of the great options below:

• Grand Rapids Symphony
• Circle Theatre
• Grand Rapids Ballet Company
• Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
• Broadway Grand Rapids
• Opera Grand Rapids
• Wealthy Theatre

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Attend ArtPrize

One of the most popular art festivals in the world, ArtPrize is an 18-day event that started in 2009. This event alone draws over a quarter of a million people each year, bringing art lovers from around the world to the Grand Rapids area. Professional and amateur artists alike submit their best work to compete for the $450,000 public and juried prize. More than 1,000 works of art are on display each year at various locations across the city. The event takes place each year from late September to early October.

One of the most unique things about ArtPrize is the fact that the public gets to vote on some of the winners. Simply download the ArtPrize app and vote for your favorite pieces. The rest of the prize money is awarded by a panel of esteemed art professionals from around the world.

You can find artwork throughout the city at various venues that chose to host artwork. See the full list of venues by clicking here!

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