2016 Annual Report Building Community and Inspiring Transformation Through Free Public Participatory Art in Our Cities

2016 Annual Report Building community and inspiring transformation through free public participatory art in our cities

As I write this, our most recent FIGMENT event was our ﬁrst- ever event in Europe, in Derby in the UK. And our next event is our ﬁrst-ever event in Asia, in Hong Kong in February 2017. With this event (our 52nd!), FIGMENT will have taken place in 18 cities in 5 countries on 4 continents over the past 10 years. And it still feels like we’re just getting started. There is so much more we can do, so many more people we can impact and transform with the power of participatory art.

As we look ahead to 2017, here are a few big ideas for where we go next:

Blow it up. FIGMENT works best when it’s new and fresh. We have to keep looking at it with fresh eyes and view it as an experiment, and invite new people in to make art and OUR VISION create together. It’s never the same twice.

We seek to empower everyone to create and share, transforming our communities and our Sharpen the invitation. Inclusion has been a part of our society through participation and creativity. ethos since we started, but simply being inclusive isn’t enough. If we want true diversity at all levels of our OUR MISSION organization and movement, we have to actively invite people in who are not like us, and who are not close to or FIGMENT’s mission is to create participatory and inclusive cultural events and experiences part of our community already. that build community and inspire personal and social transformation.

Understanding and empathy. Participatory art can be a OUR VALUES FIGMENT Executive Producer and Executive Director David Koren at FIGMENT powerful tool for people to understand each other and to be ALPHA / Photo © 2016 Jonathan Moll We believe fundamentally that every human being is equally important, and that a just society able to see the world through another’s eyes. In these times is one that makes room for the participation and expression of everyone. In order to create a of division, we need to find ways to better utilize art to bring people together. world in which this is possible, we have adopted eleven founding principles that summarize our values: Participation, Decommodification, Inclusion, Expression, Self-Reliance, Giving, Bridging social capital. Too much cultural activity in our world serves a limited audience, whether defined Communal Effort, Civic Responsibility, Leave No Trace, Immediacy, and Gratitude. socioeconomically or in terms of a specific ethnic group. We have to utilize the arts as a platform to bridge communities and bring people together. Participatory art is ideal for bridging communities.

Thank you so much for your support of FIGMENT and for working with us to build a society that respects everyone equally and that encourages everyone to create and share together.

Sincerely,

David Koren Executive Producer and Executive Director FIGMENT Dear FIGMENT supporters and friends,

As we look ahead to 2017, here are a few big ideas for where we go next:

Thank you so much for your support of FIGMENT and for working with us to build a society that respects everyone equally and that encourages everyone to create and share together.

Sincerely,

David Koren Executive Producer and Executive Director FIGMENT FIGMENT 2016 Highlights FIGMENT by the numbers 2016

The year of FIGMENT’s 10th anniversary was a momentous one, on many levels. We held our 51st event including our first European event in Derby, UK—planting a FIGMENT flag on our 3rd continent and 4th country. Founder and Executive Producer David Koren released a book on FIGMENT. 2016 was also a year of obstacles, including an extreme spike in our liability insurance cost, which put significant strain on our finances and threatened some of our programs. All in all, the year gave us hope and reassured us that our mission of connecting people through interactive art has never been more essential. In 10 years (2007–2016)

The FIGMENT Book FIGMENT has created 51 events

FIGMENT Founder and Executive Producer David Koren wrote and published a book in 17 cities on FIGMENT: FIGMENT. What is this? Why is nothing for sale? Why is everyone smiling? Packed with personal stories about FIGMENT’s past and present, and vibrant photos in 4 countries from FIGMENT events from cities around the world, the book is a case for creativity, collaboration, learning, and gratitude, in a world that is increasingly distant and on 3 continents virtual. It is an invitation to imagine a place where everyone is invited to create, share and grow. The book is available on Blurb.com (in hardcover and softcover) and on Amazon.com (in softcover and ebook editions). Get your copy and write us a review!

FIGMENT Global Business Manager Sara Muskulus involving 1000 artists a year with the first proof of the FIGMENT Book / Photo © 2016 David Koren and 1000 volunteers a year FIGMENT Derby: The First FIGMENT Event in Europe to reach 100,000 people a year On August 20th, we held our first European FIGMENT event at Derby’s Silk Mill, the location of the world’s first factory. Highlighting over 20 interactive projects in roughly 10 cities a year for 800+ participants, the event celebrated interaction and craft. The Silk Mill is currently undergoing a significant reinvention into a museum of making. The all for only $250,000 a year new museum will act as a space to learn about and examine Derby’s industrial past while celebrating and enabling new makers through learning programs, community activities, residencies, and maker spaces, making it the perfect location for FIGMENT. In 2016

We place signiﬁcant value on our relationships with key institutions and consider them to be a leading factor in our in 9 cities ongoing success in each of our cities. This year, we learned the value of educational and museum partnerships at our events in North Adams, Boulder, Oakland, and Derby, UK, as well as the ongoing strength in governmental and in 3 countries organizational partners in New York and other cities. We look forward to developing these relationships further while seeking out new opportunities. Our 2016 partners included quite a few institutions in the cities in which we are active, plus our 4th ALPHA event including the following: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Friends of Governors Island, the Trust for Governors Island, the National Park Service, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Boulder and arts education programs Public Library, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conserservancy, Chicano Park Steering Committee, Derby Museums, Mosswood Park, and many others. in Oakland FIGMENT 2016 Highlights FIGMENT by the numbers 2016

The FIGMENT Book FIGMENT has created 51 events

ALPHA returned to Camp Ramblewood in Darlington, MD, for its fourth consecutive year on April 15–17, cementing its The ﬁrst-ever FIGMENT North Adams on April 30 was also the ﬁrst-ever student-produced FIGMENT event, achieved by place within FIGMENT as a place to invest and develop our FIGMENT teams and artists. ALPHA is an experiment by our youngest producer to date. Producer Krystal Henriquez introduced the production of FIGMENT into a course at the established and emerging artists and makers, a statement about project creation, risk taking, hands-on experiential Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts—a huge boon to the success of the event and a model for FIGMENT to expand in learning, and active problem-solving. the future.

FIGMENT NYC 2016: FIGMENT NYC’s 10th anniversary event on June 3–5 was a 3-day romper ﬁlled with over 100 eclectic Summer-Long Projects: The NYC summer program was smaller in scale than in previous years—2016 featured no and theatrical performances, installations, workshops, making more use of indoor space for impressive light and audio pavilion, and no sculpture program. However, the newly designed FELIX TreeHouse structure made the Parade Grounds art. With the active construction in the redevelopment of Governors Island nearing a close, the team is exploring ways to tree a focal point for visitors, and the 2016 beautifully curated artist-designed minigolf course drew delighted crowds strengthen FIGMENT’s bonds with the island for future events. throughout the summer, and was the subject of a wonderful article in The New York Times.

Photo © 2016 Daniel Montuoro Human Interaction Booth by Josef Pinlac / Photo © 2016 Kim Breland FELIX by Mark Bearak and Jordan Meerdink and student team / Phone Charger and Electrical Outlet by Katie Stranix / Photo © 2016 Merritt Birnbaum Photo © 2016 Kim Breland New York City

FIGMENT Baltimore organized its ﬁrst-ever event on June 18 in Patterson Park. The small and cozy one-day event made FIGMENT Boulder’s ﬁrst event on July 9–10 made a splash outside the beautiful Boulder Public Library. Small in size, for a great introduction to the FIGMENT vibe for visitors to the park. Artists and team members came from other cities, FIGMENT Boulder’s great vibe and eye-catching projects made it a wonderful success. The team’s collaboration with the including New York, to help FIGMENT Baltimore make its mark. Library and a local high school shows great promise for sustained growth in future years.

After taking a year off in 2015 FIGMENT Chicago was back with whimsy in 2016 for their 3rd event on July 16–17 at the By now a staple among Toronto’s summertime events with a nighttime element on Saturday and an option for volunteers intimate Frank Wilson Park. The team gifted faucets to the park and welcomed Chicago’s local ward leader, strengthening and artists to camp on the island overnight, FIGMENT was embraced by Toronto’s Olympic Island for a 4th time on July friendships and working relationships with the city and park for future events. 23–24. The team received a grant from the Government of Canada to put on the event, and utilized part of their budget to put out a full-page color ad in NOW, outreach that undoubtedly affected the number of visitors this year.

David Hare’s Bush Verite and spontaneous Portrait Hat Tree / Style your Hat by Roxane O’Brien / Photo © 2016 Kim Breland Photo © 2016 Kim Breland BYO Tie Dye Tent by Elysia Lock / Photo © 2016 Gopho Collective Artztec nrs. 102 and 103 by Zuqy Cruz Marquez / Photo © 2016 Gopho Collective

FIGMENT Boston further solidiﬁed its place in the Boston community with a 7th consecutive event, returning to the Rose FIGMENT San Diego was held in Chicano Park on August 13 for a 4th consecutive year. Chicano Park has a strong history Kennedy Greenway on July 30–31. The event’s Saturday nighttime component at Dewey Square, FIGMENT After Dark, of community activism and the park is the embodiment of building community through art. The community is learning to saw art installations transition from day to night, into lit up projects. FIGMENT Boston was, once more, a space where embrace people and artists that are coming from ‘outside’ and FIGMENT is providing an opportunity for this exploration community connections were made, art became something that you play with, and everyone learned something new. and expansion of their boundaries.

Belly Dancing by Al Jawary Al Hessan / Photo © 2016 Tes Rivera Collaborative Mosaic by Audrey Markoff / Photo © 2016 Ariel DiOrio Artiﬁcial Scenery by Luobin Wang / Photo © 2016 Clare Densmore Photo © 2016 Clare Densmore Boston San Diego

2016 marked our first-ever FIGMENT in the UK and in Europe on August 20, and we couldn’t have imagined a more fitting Instead of organizing a 3rd ‘regular’ FIGMENT event, the Oakland team made good on their 2015 promise to the Parks and location: the Derby Silk Mill, the site of the world’s first factory—a fantastic location that celebrates makers, community, Recreation Department and used the 2016 season to run a seasonal arts education program—a wonderful experience for and interaction. Co-produced by Derby Museums and volunteer producers Mark and James, the team utilized space inside the team, the artists involved, and the young participants. Another great way for FIGMENT to forge community the museum that houses a café, workshop space, and gallery, as well as space outside in Cathedral Green, Derby. through creativity and bring people together in celebration and exploration of the arts.

Photo © 2016 TSPhotographics Web Spinner by Aaron and Fergus / Photo © 2016 TSPhotographics Ink and Paper Marbling with Jess Henricks / Paper Crafts with Emily Wong / Photo © 2016 Rick Abruzzo Photo © 2016 Rick Abruzzo Derby, UK Oakland

Board of Directors Administrative Team Carly Leinheiser, Chairman; David Koren, Executive Director; Wylie David Koren, Executive Producer Stecklow, Secretary; Rae Klein, Treasurer; Michael Goldberg; Sasha Carlijn Urlings, Global Communications Director Koren; Carlijn Urlings Emma Tuccillo, Global Community Manager Sara Muskulus, Global Business Manager Governance Council Fil Maresca, New Cities Director Kevin Balktick, Audrey Boguchwal, Peter Durand, The Eye, Jess Hooks, Global Learning Director Ryan Fix, Whitney Grant, Anna Kadysheva, Alex Kalmanofsky, Rae Klein, Finance Director Debra Keneally, Rae Klein, David Koren, John McGarvey, Wylie Stecklow, General Counsel Cory Mervis, Patty Simonton, Wylie Stecklow, Jason Turgeon, Larisa Fuchs, Press Director Carlijn Urlings, Oscar Yong FIGMENT Consultants and Advisors Legal – Joseph Voss (Clark Hill, PLC) Branding – Marc Levitt and Sheri Koetting (MSLK)

FIGMENT Alpha FIGMENT Boulder Brian Hornby, Producer, Nicholas Whitaker, Producer Noy Har-Shemesh, Co-Producer, Mara Jackson, Production Coordinator Rob Cohen, Designer Annabelle Meunier, Meet and Greet Lead FIGMENT Toronto Nina T-Bone, Outreach Lead Kim Breland and Roxanne O’Brien, Producers Fi Cheng, Logistics Lead Vicki Clough, Curatorial Lead Rolf Levenbach, Transportation Lead Paul Giel, Logistics CJ Brody, Ticket Lead Mark Zupan, Core Team Member Benjamin Jones, Alphagy Kenett Ng, On-Site Volunteer Lead Catherine Brook, Secretary FIGMENT North Adams Krystal Henriquez, Producer FIGMENT Boston Sue Killam, Curator and Legal Liaison Jessica Sedan, Producer Michelle Daly, Curator Terry Dovidio, Curatorial Director Jennifer Crowell, Production Director Pete Zawadzkas, Curatorial Director Community at Photo Booth at FIGMENT Boston / Photo © 2016 Figment Project, Inc. Suzy Helme, Venue Liaison Claire Davies-Frishman, Communications Director Peter Milesi, Site Operations Ariel DiOrio, Communications Director Lisa Donovan, Financial Liaison Jeremy Alliger, Outreach Director Meghan Robertson, Communications Director Jacob Fennell, Co-Volunteer Coordinator FIGMENT San Diego William Taylor, Co-Volunteer Coordinator Nicole Hickman and Denise Lozano: co-producers Christopher Handschuh, Communications Valerie Turner and Alicia Smith: co-curatorial directors Sebastian Conrad, Communications Marie Reed: fundraising director Margaret Dobson, Communications and Outreach Lee Hemingway: marketing director Stephen Pruzinsky, Marketing and Graphic Design FIGMENT Derby FIGMENT New York Mark Hornsey, Producer Benjamin Jones, Producer Gemma Hopkins, Volunteer Director Marianna Lavin, Co-Producer Andrea Mercer, Curator Christian Trella, Curatorial Director Chris Keady, Curator Francesca Anumonwo, Curatorial Director Daniel Martin, Curator Jacquie Jordan Marynowski, Logistics Emma Hallam, Communication Director Jeff Levine, Placement Lead, Laura Lopez Rivero, Communications Stephanie Caragliani, Volunteer Coordinator Hannah Fox, Finance Director Tad Philips, Minigolf Director Kim Miller, Venue Liaison Alison Simko, Minigolf Director FIGMENT Oakland FIGMENT Baltimore Rick Abruzzo, Producer Eli Omega, Producer Emmie Katz, Curatorial Director Patrice Abel, Production and Budget Mari Hsu, Curatorial Director Elizabeth Ashe, Lead Curator Absinthia Baum, Fundraising Lead Jenny Sparkkles, Volunteer Coordinator Irene Malatesta, Outreach Lead Katie Bechtold, Web Design and Communications Marissa Joy Clark, Communications Director Tessa Levine and Kate Fritz, Volunteer Leads FIGMENT Chicago Ruby Tuesdae, Volunteer Coordinator Cynthia Fox, Producer Josh Rosenbluh, Curatorial Director FIGMENT DC Linda Deviller, Curatorial Director Ernie Ambrose, Co-Producer, Production Director David Shuey, Communications Director JoAnna Goldberg, Co-Producer, Curatorial Director Elysia Lock, Fundraising Director Jen Cooper, Outreach Director and Finance Jason Allain, Legal Liaison Patty Simonton, Outreach Director and Finance Alison Gerlach, Incoming Producer Ann Phillips, Volunteer Coordinator Clara Elias, LNT Director

FIGMENT is an incredibly efficient arts project, from the perspective of the amount of financial investment required in Foundation and Government Supporters The Pollination Project order to reach and affect a large number of people. While our total expenditures for 2016 were approximately $234,000, American Chai Trust The Puffin Foundation Autodesk Foundation Reis Foundation we reached well over 100,000 people through our events and programs in ten cities, our ALPHA creators’ weekend, and The Awesome Foundation Ripple Foundation summer-long installations on New York City’s Governors Island. We are able to achieve this exceptional efficiency due Black Rock Arts Foundation Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy to the significant volunteer resources that are contributed freely to our events and exhibitions by thousands of artists, Chicago Parks District The Sprout Fund volunteers, and team members. This in-kind contribution of volunteer time, if we were able to calculate its monetary value, The City of Greater Geelong (Australia) Tecovas Foundation would total several million dollars. Department of Canadian Heritage Williamson Childrens Fund Double R Foundation Edith C. Blum Foundation Community and Event Supporters Despite a challenging economic environment for arts and culture, and many institutions and individuals exercising a great Eugene and Emily Grant Family Foundation Alchemy deal of caution in their charitable contributions, FIGMENT continued to expand in 2016, adding new programs and events Favela Foundation Bold Urban Renaissance Network (B.U.R.N.) in additional cities. In our ten-year history, FIGMENT has always managed to break even in each season. We have learned The Friends of Governors Island Burning Man Boston Decompression Event Greater Jackson Arts Council to scale our expenditures on the fly to match the revenue that we are able to generate. Burning Man New York Decompression Event Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Costume Cultural Society Greenwall Foundation Fat Friday Foundation The vast majority of our revenue comes from grants from foundations, government entities, and donations from The Knight Foundation Firefly Arts Collective individuals. We do not accept any corporate sponsorship or advertising. Earlier in our history, we had a great deal of La Vida Feliz Foundation The Fund for Boston Neighborhoods, Inc. success in securing grants from foundations concerned with the arts and community development. However, as these Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Gratitude NYC Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation Interactivearts foundations have reduced the size of their charitable campaigns in the last several years, we have increasingly relied on National Endowment for the Arts Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts donations from individuals, the vast majority of which are small (<$100), and include the proceeds in donations from our New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Midtown Partners, Inc. summer-long minigolf course on Governors Island. New York State Council on the Arts Playa Del Fuego NYC and Company Foundation, Inc. Regional Plan Association Pappagallo Family Foundation San Diego Collaborative Arts Project 2016 INCOME 2016 EXPENSES Pittman Family Foundation Spanish Cultural Action Foundation Grants: $80,000 FIGMENT NYC Event: $17,000 Government Grants: $40,000 FIGMENT San Diego Event: $3,000 Individual Donations: $70,000 FIGMENT Boston Event: $15,000 2016 Individual Donors ($75+) Fundraising Events: $27,700 FIGMENT Chicago Event: $8,000 Pavilion Competition Entry Fees: $3,000 FIGMENT Toronto Event (Support): $1,000 FIGMENT Legends FIGMENT Devotees Alfredo De Avila Kid Klass, LLC Steve Pomeroy ALPHA Ticket Sales: $13,000 FIGMENT Derby Event (Support): $1,000 ($10,000+) ($250+) Andrew Deane Kenneth Klein Stephanie Porter Anonymous Donor Mark Brailsford Michael Dewberry Edward Koslowsky Tina Prevost Total Income: $233,700 FIGMENT North Adams Event: $4,000 Danielle Bonequi Teresa Dovidio Tawny Koslowsky Melvin Priester FIGMENT Boulder Event: $3,000 FIGMENT Heroes Bill Campbell Michael Drumstas Nathan Lachenmyer Erica Quigley ($1,000+) Christian Gerling Peter Durand Brandon Lane Jeffrey Quinlan FIGMENT Baltimore Event: $4,000 Alex Bernstein Michael Goldberg William Egbert Nick Lauder Donald Rider FIGMENT Minigolf Course: $12,000 David M. Darst Michael V. Moore Jonathan Evans David Levy Casey Roberts Rae Klein Peter Zawadzkas Terry Fassburg Lisa Lines Sarah Rogers FIGMENT TreeHouse: $8,000 David Koren Allison I. Fennell John Locke Leah Rosa Weinberg ALPHA Event: $13,000 Sasha Koren FIGMENT Enthusiasts Terri Ferrari Anne Lodick Ben Rudnick Carly Leinheiser ($75+) Rose Fieschko Robert Luoma Catherine Sauer FIGMENT Oakland Children’s Program $200 Michael Pecnik TSasha Albert Jered Floyd Audrey Mae LaBonte Jessica Sedan Technology Systems: $25,000 Cedric C. Philipp Jeremy Alliger Trevor Frazer Havona Madama Michael Shannon Timothy and Anna Sean Aod Peter Frishauf Irene Malatesta Mona A. Sharaf General/Shared Administration: $82,500 Schumacher Toby Ast Sheila Garson Audrey Markoff Rachel Sierra Professional Services $5,000 Michael Zlotowicz John Bargiel Andrew Goldman Meredith McConnell Patty Simonton Melissa Barker Jacqueline Gonzalez Joseph Sokol-Margolis Event Insurance $32,000 Kenneth Mcklinski FIGMENT Champions Anaracy Barreto Jared Goodman Margaret Meisel Anastacia Spada Total Expenses: $233,700 ($500+) Paul S. Bassis Thomas Gregory Jim Meloy Megan Stokes Gary C. Bridges Mark Bearak David Gudai Jordan Meerdink Nathan Swain Andrea Deane Michelle Behrend Abram Guerra Christopher Mitchell Martha Talton Mary T. Emeny Courtney Brown Amanda Gutowski Doug Moore Gordon Thompson Gregory Harris Thomas A. Bruno Christopher Harris Sara Muskulus Jason Turgeon Holly Iu Michael Burke Krystal Henriquez Abraham Muslin William Turville Jeffrey Levine Adam Burrows Joshua Hochberg Richard Nordin Yvette Vacheron Please Note: These totals by category for both income and expenses are approximate, and are based on our entire Jacquie Marynowski John Cafferty Brian Hornby Dajan O’Donnell David Walzer summer 2016 season (March to October), as opposed to our 2016 fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30. As our Carlijn Urlings Jesse Campbell Charles Ingersoll Victoria Olson Alda Xie Nora Carroll Julia Kedge Ryan Ong Yoyo Yan fiscal year ends in the middle of our season, we find it helpful to look at income and expenses on the basis of the season, James Catlin Sabrina Khouri Hartland Paterson Echo Yue rather than the fiscal year, which can be misleading depending on the timing of specific income and expenses. Mengze Chen Ronald Kimball Diana Picariello Vivian Zhao 2016 Financial Performance FIGMENT Supporters

FIGMENT NYC / Photo © 2016 Daniel Rose Please make a contribution to support FIGMENT’s ambitious 2017 program of participatory events and interactive exhibitions. You can donate online at http://ﬁgmentproject.org/donate, or by sending a check to Figment Project, Inc., 111 East 14th Street, #369, New York, NY 10003. All donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

FIGMENT is a 501(c)(3) not-for-proﬁt organization entirely funded by grants and individual donations. FIGMENT accepts no corporate sponsorship of any kind. FIGMENT is supported throughout the USA by the National Endowment of the Arts. FIGMENT NYC is supported by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, as well as by the Fund for Creative Communities, supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. FIGMENT Boston is produced with support from the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, the designated stewards of the Rose Kennedy Greenway and site of FIGMENT Boston. FIGMENT Toronto is produced with support from the Department of Canadian Heritage Building Communities through Arts and Heritage, and in partnership with interactive arts. Thank you for your support! Automatic Subconscious Dome by Automatic Subconscious, FIGMENT Boston / Photo © 2016 Tes Rivera Support FIGMENT FIGMENT is powered by donations