We believe that participatory art, because of its interactive and immersive nature, can be a vehicle for personal and social transformation. Participatory arts include any works of art that require the interaction of participants, such as installation art, costuming, interactive performance, and games. These activities bring together artists and community members in ways that build relationships and unlock individual creativity. Participatory art links artist with their audience as collaborators in the creative process, and that enables art to function more as dialogue rather than monologue.
Our artistic vision is to produce participatory arts projects and a large scale cultural event that consciously engages our physical and historical context and imagines a vision for the future of Governors Island. We aim to engage all participants in a cross section of contemporary culture in a way that is not restricted by the existing paradigms of either other participatory events or the high art world. We are here to showcase the emerging themes and ideas of contemporary culture, as well as facilitate the mobilization of new creative communities and ideas.
Art projects will be solicited for FIGMENT through a curatorial process, based on artistic merit, ambitiousness, and interactivity. As there is a lot of room on Governors Island to fill with art, our goal will be to approve as many projects as possible. We intend to utilize the networks of artists in New York City and around the world to participate. We seek art projects that demonstrate an ability to transform their environment and the perception of participants.