We are excited to announce that we are now accepting project submissions for the FIGMENT NYC 2020 weekend!
FIGMENT NYC 2020 will be a two-day participatory arts event held on Roosevelt Island on June 6 & 7, showcasing art that encourages participants to play, dance, sing, create, engage, experiment, and explore their environment. The event accepts submissions from artists of all ages and experience.
FIGMENT After Dark!
Saturday, June 6 from 6pm-10pm FIGMENT NYC will offer "FIGMENT AFTER DARK". Artists are encouraged to submit projects that have a special interactivity when the lights go down. Once the stars are out we expect submissions of wearable art, LED-based sculptures, art cars, blacklight, reactive interactivity and more. Be part of the magic and submit below
How to Submit Your Project
Before you submit:
- Please read the new Artist’s Guide to Leave No Trace for more information on what LNT means for artists
- Please read the Artists Tips & Tricks Guide which provides guidelines on how to make your project as FIGMENT-worthy as possible! The guide contains practical installation and de-installation tips, rules of engagement and construction limitations on Roosevelt Island, a list of things you should bring to the island, a list of things you cannot bring to the island.
- Please read The What's New for 2020 Guide
To submit your project:
Submit your art project for FIGMENT Weekend by April 13, 2020 by filling out an application on the Artist Submission Portal*. The Tips & Tricks Guide contains detailed instructions on how to use the portal.
After you submit, you will be assigned a curator, who will be your official contact and through the FIGMENT evaluation process, and then your guide supporting you through the event itself to ensure bringing your project to FIGMENT NYC Weekend goes as smoothly as possible.
*Please Note that our artist portal has been presenting errors when used with Safari. Please try using Google Chrome or Firefox if you encounter problems logging in with Safari.
Things Artists Should Know about FIGMENT
FIGMENT is not your typical art event. Here are key things to keep in mind before submitting to FIGMENT NYC Weekend. Most of them are discussed in detail below or in the Artists Tips and Tricks Guide.
- Everyone is welcome. Artists and participants of any age or experience are welcome to be a part of FIGMENT.
- All art is participatory. All of the art at FIGMENT is participatory. We look for art that encourages people to play, dance, sing, create, engage, experiment, and explore their environment. See below for our curatorial considerations.
- No sales, logos, or advertising. The art at FIGMENT is a gift from the artist to the FIGMENT community. Nothing is for sale at FIGMENT. At FIGMENT, interactions between people are not mediated by commercial transactions of any kind. There is no advertising, nothing is for sale, and no one asks for donations (other than for FIGMENT).
- We’re outdoors in a public park. FIGMENT takes place outdoors in a public area, so your project should be designed to withstand the weather and the public.
- We leave no trace. Your project can not leave any trace or mark on the island, and artists must be prepared to completely remove and clean up after their project. See our LNT Guide for more information.
- We’re all volunteer. FIGMENT NYC is an all-volunteer organization. Our staff gives their time as a gift to artists and participants. Additionally, artists need to supply all of the labor they need to install, supervise, and deinstall their project.
- FIGMENT NYC Weekend is a completely free event. There is no charge for artists or participants to be a part of the event.
- We have no artists grants. The festival does not have a budget for project grants.
- We're in other cities, too! There are FIGMENT Weekend events happening around the globe, and we encourage artists to bring their projects to multiple cities! Find out where else FIGMENT is happening.
CURATORIAL CONSIDERATIONS: HOW WE EVALUATE PROJECT SUBMISSIONS
The FIGMENT Weekend Curatorial Team is primarily concerned with the suitability of your project for FIGMENT and Roosevelt Island, as opposed to artist experience, education or previous exhibitions of the piece. Artists of any age or experience are welcome to be a part of FIGMENT as long as the project is interactive, upholds our principles, and does not violate park rules. Here are some questions you should ask yourself when preparing a project for FIGMENT.
Is it interactive?
Interactive or Participatory art blurs the lines between the artist, the art, and people engaging with the art. We look for art that encourages people to play, dance, sing, create, engage, experiment, and explore their environment. Theatre, dance, music, performance art, games, creative costuming and workshops are all found at FIGMENT. Three dimensional sculptural installations are also common at FIGMENT, as the participant’s experience of the piece alters as they move around it.
We generally do not accept “wall art” such as finished paintings or photography and do not have space to display such works. Artists working in those genres are encouraged to find a way to engage FIGMENT participants in creating such works, displaying such works inside a larger sculptural installation, collaborating with a performance art event, or creating some other participatory experience that involves such works.
Does it uphold the FIGMENT Principles?
In addition to being interactive, art at FIGMENT must be consistent with our 11 principles. FIGMENT has 11 principles that shape our event, giving our events a unique flavor and experience found in few places elsewhere in the world. They also guide the curators in selecting art appropriate for the event. Upholding the principles presents challenges to FIGMENT artists, staff, and volunteers that many other art events do not have to address.
Is it durable and designed for the environment?
FIGMENT Weekend is a rain or shine event held outdoors on public park land that faces the ocean. We do not have indoor storage space for projects, and the event does not have secure borders. This means a few things:
Projects brought to FIGMENT must be able to withstand heavy rain and wind. It’s okay to disassemble or cover your project in the event of rain (or at the end of the day, just in case), but you need to be prepared for rain. Tents must be weighted down during the day and must come down overnight. If your project falls apart in the wind or rain, it is your responsibility to clean it up. Projects must be durable and ready to have up to 20,000 people interacting with it. Projects made from fragile or flimsy materials will not be accepted. Projects must also be designed with security in mind—the island is open to the public during the day, but thousands of people live and work on the Roosevelt Island. Don't leave your project unattended. Valuable equipment or materials are left unattended at the artist’s own risk.
Does it pose a threat to LNT?
We take our principle of Leave No Trace seriously. Your project can not leave any trace or mark on the Island, and artists must be prepared to clean up after their project. For more details on what this means and how to comply, see our Artists Tips and Tricks Guide.
Is it feasible to bring to Roosevelt Island? Does it pose legal or liability issues?
There are a host of restrictions on materials and activities on Roosevelt Island. See the Artists Tips and Tricks Guide for more information.
Artist history & experience
As we stated earlier, artists of any age or experience are welcome to be a part of FIGMENT. We consider artist history and experience largely for placement and PR purposes only.
Weekend Event Process Timeline
- Jan 20 Call for Submissions Open! Project approvals begin on a rolling basis
- April 13 Call for Art submissions close
- TBD Roosevelt Island Site Visit #1—Visit the island with the curatorial team
- May 1 Project Approval Deadline—You’ll hear from us by this date if you haven't already
- TBD Roosevelt Island Site Visit #2 —Visit the island with the curatorial team
- June 4&5 Install
- June 6&7 FIGMENT Festival in NYC!
- Jun 8 Deinstall Day—All projects must be removed by 2pm Monday unless alternative arrangements are worked out with FIGMENT and Roosevelt Island