Project submissions for FIGMENT 2009 have already closed.  If you have any immediate questions, please contact us at curatorial@figmentnyc.org.

 

 

What can content be?

In the past, FIGMENT has hosted a wide variety of artistic endeavors… Street theater, costuming, sculpture, inflatable art, dance, performance art, installations, social experiments, mobile art, workshops, games, community building projects, arts & crafts, sound art, bands & DJ’s, lectures & seminars on themes of participatory art & culture, and anything else you can imagine!

Installations, performances, activities, or other projects that can be set up outdoors are welcome. It is also possible that indoor space will be available for certain projects. If you have an idea for FIGMENT and have questions about whether it’s plausible, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can set up your own area or host a scheduled event. No matter what you do, the one requirement is that it somehow engages audience participation. Just bring it to FIGMENT and try it out!

What are the deadlines?

Key projects will be given placement on the island on a rolling basis. If you have a large project or a project that requires specific placement or infrastructure, please submit it as soon as possible so that we can accommodate it. The final deadline is May 15th.
 

What about funding?

FIGMENT is a community-based event organized and run by volunteers. Its success is dependent on community participation. FIGMENT does NOT provide funding for the production, transportation, or insurance of works to, at, or from the island. FIGMENT encourages artists to fundraise for your project within your personal capacity. Please note that no corporate sponsorship (including logos and credit lines) is permitted at the event. In addition, nothing may be sold at the event other than food and beverages from licensed vendors.
 

WHEN CAN WE SET UP? WHAT ARE THE HOURS?

Artists are encouraged to set up and break down their exhibits before and after FIGMENT, instead of during the event itself. Arrangements must be made with the FIGMENT festival for all deliveries, installations, and de-installations to or from Governors Island. Once you have submitted your project, you can speak about this in more detail with one of our curators.

For projects that are part of the season-long sculpture exhibit or the mini-golf course, you can speak directly with one of our curators for more detail.

Can I distribute fliers for my band/art project?
Please do not distribute fliers or printed materials at Figment. We are trying to provide as waste-free an event as possible.

Can I sell my CD?
We kindly ask that you do not sell anything – including CDs – at Figment.   FIGMENT is an entirely free and non-commercial event in which everyone volunteers their time and effort to participate… the organizers, the artists, the participants. which interactions between people are not mediated by commercial transactions of any kind. Everything at FIGMENT is free, and there is no advertising, nothing for sale, and no one insisting that you have to give a donation to participate. 

Can I collect email addresses for my mailing list?
Yes, you may collect addresses, but we ask that you manage the list and make it clear to participants that they are signing up for your list and not the Figment list. Please do not leave unattended clipboards around the island; keep the list with you so that you can get participants excited about your project. 

Is there power available?
Power is available only for Figment artists who submitted a project via our website by May 15 and also coordinated with a curatorial contact. As of June 7, all power requests have been finalized and we can no longer accept requests. If you have not been in contact with a curator prior to June 7, please plan to operate without power during Figment. 

Should I bring an extension cord?
If you have been in touch with Figment, yes, please bring at least a 100′ extension cord. The longer the cord, the better. 

Can I bring my car?
The short answer is no. Figment ferries have limited space and the Island has asked us to minimize car traffic. However, if you have corresponded with a Figment curator prior to June 7 about bringing your vehicle on a specific ferry to install, then it is fine. 

There are some supplies that I need. Can I get them from Figment?
Figment promotes radical self reliance, so please make every effort to bring all the supplies that you need for your project. As an all volunteer event, we give our time and passion to the event, but it’s a bit more challenging to buy things. 

What if I did not submit a project to Figment but I still want to bring it? 
We encourage you to bring projects that you can carry while walking on to a public ferry. Projects will not be on our  map or schedule, but Figment is about serendipity and discovery so that’s ok. Unregistered projects will not have access to power, cannot be stored overnight and cannot be installed in a building or on any structure on the island. Please take your portable project with you when you leave the island and leave no trace. 

When is Figment?
Figment is this Friday, June 12 through Sunday, June 14 from 10am until 5pm on Friday and 10am through 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

How do I get there? 
Public Ferries depart from the Battery Maritime Building in Manhattan and from Brooklyn. See the schedules here: http://figmentnyc.org/2009/figment-2009/getting-there/

When are the ferries? 
See the ferry schedules here:http://figmentnyc.org/2009/figment-2009/getting-there/

When can I install my project?
Sunday, June 7 through the morning of Friday, June 12. Unfortunately, requests for private ferries during the week are now closed. If you have not coordinated with a curator to get out to the island before Figment, please make every effort to take the 10 am ferry on Friday, June 12. 

When can I deinstall my project?
You can take it with you on Sunday when you leave Figment, or schedule a deinstallation ferry time from Monday, June 15 through Thursday, June 18. Please email curatorial@figmentnyc.org.

Can I put stakes in the ground?
If you must put stakes in the ground, they can only be 6 inches deep. Due to the island’s history as a military base, there may be crazy things underground. Please check with your curator before staking. 

Can I hang things from trees?
As long as they are light and will not damage the trees, you may hang items. Think cloth and paper. Please check with your curator before hanging. 

Is there access to water?
While Governors Island is surrounded by water, it’s an active harbor and not a beach. There is no potable (drinkable) water on the island and no waterfront access. If you need a small amount of water (a bucketful) for your project, there is a hose. 

Can I have tables and chairs?
We have a small number on the island that we have allocated based on requests for artists who submitted projects via our website. We were not able to accommodate everyone and chairs and tables should be considered an extra. If you have portable tables and chairs that you can carry on to the ferry, really need them for your project, we recommend bringing them if possible. 

How do I reserve time on a non-public Ferry to get out before installation?
We needed this information by June 1 to book you on a private staff ferry. We are working diligently to ensure all projects are installed in time. Please remember to bring your ID to board a private ferry.