World of Winter is an annual two-month festival hosted by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI). It is designed to transform Downtown Grand Rapids into a vibrant, four-season city by activating public spaces with stunning art, engaging activities and events for all to enjoy.
Each year, DGRI features international, national, regional and local art and installations alongside a full schedule of events and activities. During the 2025 festival there were over 4.3 million visits to Downtown Grand Rapids.
This year’s Request for Proposals is seeking large-scale installations to be featured in the 2026 World of Winter festival taking place from January 9 through March 1, 2026. Locations include various parks and public spaces in Downtown Grand Rapids.
Previous years’ selected installations include large-scale works from industrial designers, electrical engineers, interactive display artists and creatives of all kinds. Proposals are preferred that offer the following characteristics:
- Interactive installations
- Installations with light and sound components
- Installations that are enjoyable both day and night
- Installations that do not require 24-hour security
*all installations must be able to withstand extreme winter weather conditions
This RFP is open to any and all interested parties and multiple proposals from individuals or groups are welcome. Responses are due by 11:59 PM (EST) on May 11, 2025. Questions may be submitted by 5:00 PM (EST) on May 7, 2025 to Kim Van Driel, DGRI’s Director of Public Space Management at kvandriel@downtowngr.org.
