November 29, 2021
Newfound sustainability of the artist-led nonprofit strengthens services for emerging artists.
As reported by Hyperallergic, Flux Factory announced the purchase of two locations in Long Island City, Queens, including the familiar building they have rented since 2009 on 29th Street as well as the their new permanent satellite location named “Flux IV”, the fourth space in Flux’s 28 year history as an artist-led community nonprofit.
Both purchases were made possible through 5 million USD in funds from the City of New York. Flux is currently seeking to raise funds toward its first year of programs at Flux IV.
The purchase of Flux Factory’s beloved home-base on 29th Street permanently solidifies core programs in an farcically eccentric 9000 square foot warehouse that is architecturally exemplary of New York artist collectives of a by-gone era. These core programs include an affordable Artist-in-Residency with both private and common studio spaces as well as a gallery for multidisciplinary public events. Serving emerging artists, Flux Factory is known for socially engaged, multidisciplinary and offbeat programs.
A new location, Flux IV, will open in the summer of 2022, located a stone’s throw from the intersection of the East River and Newtown Creek of Queens’ Hunter Point South waterfront. Flux IV will include a gallery and workspace for artists across 3000 square feet on the ground floor of the Gotham Point building, enabling Flux to double public event capacity and partner with surrounding local institutions in Hunter’s Point South.
“Seven years ago we were facing an imminent buy-out and might’ve collapsed entirely,” said Flux Factory Executive Director Nat Roe. “Threat of displacement has always compromised our ability to support artists. We were broke and didn’t have much of a plan, but everybody knew that Flux was so important and unique that it had to somehow survive. We’ve turned over every stone since then to somehow put the pieces together. The notion of owning two properties was unthinkable until it became inevitable. New York City is the only American city doing cultural work remotely of this kind, but it is a breakthrough strategy for addressing gentrification in cities worldwide. At Flux IV we’re pleased to be part of a larger urban planning project that includes a waterfront park, community boathouse, library, rent-stabilized housing, and more. But with this newfound sustainability comes higher accountability: we have to find a way to grow into larger shoes through providing better artist stipends, expanded staff, and better equipment and facilities. Many grassroots spaces have expanded suddenly like us, but along the way many have lost sight of their core values or bankrupted themselves through overambition. Support toward the pilot year of the Flux IV space will make all the difference toward doing full justice to Flux’s potential and avoid a threadbare reopening, risking stunted growth for years.”
About Flux Factory
Flux Factory is an artist-led space that builds sustainable communities and retains creative vitality in NYC. Since 1994, Flux has hosted over 300 Artists-in-Residence, both local and international, as well as staging over 700 exhibitions across all disciplines. Flux hosts over 75 annual free public events. Each year, Flux selects 40 Artists-in-Residence (both local and international) to develop their creative practices by offering affordable studios, shared workspaces (such as a print shop, wood shop, and technical office), a solo exhibition, as well as professional development opportunities. Flux commissions 100 multidisciplinary artworks annually through open calls with 4 annual Group Exhibitions. Flux Factory produces programs at partner institutions regularly. Notably, these include a partnership with Denmark’s ARoS Museum which convenes 40 international artists each Summer to produce events throughout Aarhus, as well as a house on New York City’s scenic Governors Island serving 30 artists with workspace and exhibition opportunities each summer/fall.
