Trump’s Education Secretary helped found Michigan's ArtPrize

ARTNET NEWS
By Alyssa Buffenstein

Donald Trump announced [on] November 23, his pick for education secretary—Betsy DeVos, a member of “Western Michigan Royalty,” according to the New York Times, whose family has pumped millions into arts initiatives. But DeVos is also a heavily-criticized advocate for school choice, charter schools, and voucher programs. The DeVoses founded the Michigan ArtPrize, the “most-attended public art event on the planet.” The international art competition awards $500,000 in prizes to artists and more than $270,000 in grants to, among others, venues, curators, public projects, and, interestingly, voter registration ($8,000) and education days ($44,000). [link]