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Our place, your voices: The Rapidian creates critical discourse during ArtPrize

This dispatch was added by one of our Nonprofit Neighbors. It does not represent the editorial voice of The Rapidian or Community Media Center.

To grow the success of our speaker series, ArtPrize needed a partner that could provide a context and credibility- and stir and moderate the critical discourse these events should be provoking. We found that partner in The Rapidian.

/Courtesy of ArtPrize

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Written by Todd Herring

 

Every year at ArtPrize, significant work goes into building a speaker series comprised of the right voices at the highest level of their fields. Adam Weinberg, Jerry Saltz, Mel Chin, Theaster Gates, Anne Pasternak, John Waters and dozens more have come to Grand Rapids to share their stories and expertise with the ArtPrize audience.

In that time, we’ve certainly had some hits and unforgettable moments, yet we were always surprised to still see some empty seats and the occasional lukewarm response to content we hoped would spark heated debate.  

It wasn't broken per se, but we knew it could be better and we knew we couldn’t do it alone. ArtPrize needed a partner that could provide a context and credibility to audience outreach that traditional marketing efforts could not. We also needed a partner that could facilitate a public forum - separate from ArtPrize - to stir and moderate the critical discourse these events should be provoking. 

The Rapidian, with support from the whole of the Community Media Center, created a suite of programming that included radio (WYCE), television (GRTV), and of course the outstanding citizen journalism of the Rapidian.

Thanks to this partnership, every seat was filled, and The Rapidian and the Community Media Center made the content relevant long before, and after, the live events through talk back sessions, recording and rebroadcasting of the event, and radio discussions - that still remain online today. 

Now The Rapidian needs our help to continue fostering important conversations on our community. Please join us in supporting The Rapidian today.

 

During The Rapidian’s online fund drive, we are reminded that this highly valued news source runs on money. The Rapidian needs your help to continue providing content that is important to you. Please give today at therapidian.org/donate.

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