HISTORY
(c) 2007 Jim Glaser
The FIGMENT Story
FIGMENT catalyzes and celebrates an abundance of creativity and passion, challenging artists and our communities to find new ways to create, share, think, and dream. FIGMENT’s annual participatory arts event began in New York City in 2007 and has expanded to include events in Boston, Detroit, and Jackson, Mississippi. In New York, FIGMENT hosts an annual summer-long exhibition on Governors Island that includes an interactive sculpture garden, an artist-designed minigolf course, and an architectural pavilion co-presented with ENYA and SEAoNY.
Since its launch in 2007, FIGMENT has grown significantly each year—in number of projects, event duration, participants, volunteers, fundraising capability, exhibitions, geographic locations, overall level of commitment and participation, and public support.
At the time that FIGMENT began, Governors Island was a new public venue that had recently (2003) been turned over from the Federal Government to New York City, with a very specific set of restrictions: there could be no permanent housing on the island, no casinos for 50 years, and significant portions of the island had to be used for educational and cultural purposes. In short, Governors Island was a new piece of real estate in New York City that had to be used for the benefit of all New Yorkers.
Now, in 2012, the FIGMENT Team plans for its sixth event in NYC, and it seems like more growth is on the horizon. In addition to the FIGMENT events in NYC, Boston, Jackson, and Detroit, which fully intend to continue and grow in 2012, there are groups in a number of other cities who are considering creating new FIGMENT events.
2003-2005
Where It All Started
2005
The First Art on the Island
2006
Assembling the Team
Action Arts league
2007
Creating a Footprint, but Leaving No Trace
A Critical Time for the Arts
FIGMENT Gets Serious
2008
Building a relationship with Governors Island
2009
Growing in the Face of Uncertainty
FIGMENT co-presents New Island Festival
2010
Organizational Changes and Reaching out to the Design Community
Geographic Expansion Begins
Another Summer on Governors Island
A Bit of Gratitude
Renaming the Organization
2011
Going to Jackson
On to Summer 2011
FIGMENT’s Next Island: Detroit
2012
On to the Next Level
Last updated 15/1/2012
