Competition designed to change Flint's downtown flat lot - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(01/29/13) - The American Institute of Architects and the Flint Public Art Project are teaming for a international competition, designed to change the face of Flint's downtown flat lot.

"This is really exciting and cool. It's going to bring a really interesting thing to downtown Flint," said Shannon White, of American Institute of Architects-Flint.

The goal is to create a temporary summer entertainment pavilion - one that will bring in visitors from around the region.

"I think the pavilion could provide a concert stage and maybe take the place of a temporary tent that might be used for the pizza party after the Crim or be used as a backdrop for stage seating for a new summer concert series that we're envisioning for downtown," White said.

Up for grabs is $25,000. 

"It's to help actually, to help realize and build the structure. You have to provide a budget in your submission," White said.

The pavilion would open this June. So far, organizers have been overwhelmed by the response.

"I get messages that fill my inbox everyday from all over the world. There's been more than 100 people, with entries from Brazil, Australia, and London," said Jerome Chou, of the Flint Public Art Project.

The competition is modeled after a similar one held by the Museum of Metropolitan Art in New York.

"The nearest competition like this would be Art Prize in Grand Rapids, which took 1,200 applicants the first year, and over the past three years has drawn almost 5,000," White said.

The structure would be in place for around four months. The plan is to open up the pavilion contest every year to annually reinvent the flat lot.

"People are planning a lot of things to bring events and new ideas in and I think this will just add to the momentum of the city," said Kathleen Gazall, of Gazall Lewis & Assoc. Architects.

Registration applications must be in by Thursday, with design submissions due in March.

For more information, click HERE.