Trust for Governors Island

As Governors Island closes out another remarkable year, we want to thank our dedicated Corporate Members for providing essential support in 2024. More than 68 groups of 2,700 volunteers contributed 5,400+ hours of service to Governors Island this year, creating a considerable and lasting impact on the landscape:  - 30 trees planted - 150 plugs of grass planted - 4,200 cubic feet of invasive species removed - 760 tree rings maintained - 1,600 cubic feet of paths and play areas mulched With expansive park space and unparalleled recreational opportunities, Governors Island offers a reprieve from the city for all New Yorkers. Because of volunteer efforts from our Corporate Members, the Island’s landscapes are a more welcoming and beautiful place for visitors and wildlife. Thank you! To learn more about Corporate Membership and how to volunteer with us please email corporate@govisland.org.

We are thrilled to announce that the Trust for Governors Island has been selected to participate in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Program, which helps organizations like ours invest in essential digital infrastructure. Through the program, we are excited to make significant improvements to our digital tools, helping to further Governors Island as an accessible resource for New Yorkers and visitors from around the world. Learn more about the program and meet all participating organizations at https://lnkd.in/dNZAkVSM 📸: "Cabin," Rachel Whiteread, on view at Discovery Hill. Photo by Julienne Schaer

Governors Island is here for you in every season–whether you prefer sledding down Discovery Hill, taking in spring blooming trees in Liggett Terrace, leaf peeping in Nolan Park, or tossing a frisbee at Picnic Point. Our horticulture and landscaping teams work 365 days a year, utilizing nature-based solutions and native habitat restoration to help improve our city’s environment and create a welcoming Island. And with 120 acres to nurture, we rely on donors like you to support our continued work growing a greener and more beautiful New York for all. During this season of giving, show your appreciation for our open space with a donation to the Governors Island Foundation: govisland.org/donate

Searching for the perfect gift for your favorite climate-conscious art lover? We've got just the thing! Support #GovIslandArts by purchasing an original artwork created by Jenny Kendler and printed by Powerhouse Arts, Inc. in honor of “Other of Pearl” on Governors Island. Each limited-edition diptych depicts film stills from the 1922 silent film “Down to the Sea in Ships” using a specially developed "floating" monoprint technique and iridescent pigments to create something truly unique. Purchase by Friday, December 13, to guarantee arrival by the holidays: https://lnkd.in/eXcCfFxS Proceeds from these edition sales will support #GovIslandArts's dynamic, transformative programming on Governors Island. To learn more about our work, visit govisland.org/arts. #climate #arts #holidaygifting

Each year our nearly one million visitors experience a growing number of free and engaging public art exhibitions on Governors Island. A highlight from this past year: artist and activist Jenny Kendler’s “Other of Pearl,” the grand yet delicate exhibition presented by #GovIslandArts and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that explored human relationships with the natural world through the lens of oysters and whales. We also hosted the second annual INTERVENTIONS performance series that highlighted acclaimed artists from around the world, and more than 20 nonprofit Organizations in Residence in the Island’s historic houses. THANK YOU for visiting, supporting, and engaging with Governors Island Arts this season. Visit govisland.org/donate today to support our arts programs with a donation, and stay tuned for an exciting 2025 season! 📸 clockwise from left: “Cabin,” Rachel Whiteread (Julienne Schaer), “Church,” Shantell Martin (Timothy Schenck), “Bird MMXXIII,” Sheila Berger (Cirsty Burton), “Not for Nutten,” Duke Riley; “The Open Orchard,” Sam Van Aken; and “Whale Bells” as featured in “Other of Pearl,” Jenny Kendler and Andrew Bearnot (Timothy Schenck)

The generosity of New Yorkers has helped transform Governors Island into what it is today: a respite for all with unparalleled green space, a world-class cultural destination, and a hub for the future of climate solutions. We are grateful to our incredible supporters, advocates, and friends–today and every day. If you wish to donate this #GivingTuesday and share the gift of Governors Island this holiday season, here are a few ways to spread the love. Visit govisland.org/support to donate, become a member, or adopt a piece of Governors Island. 📸: Julienne Schaer

To tackle the causes of the #climatecrisis and mitigate its impacts, we need to make sure the innovations that will take us there are given the time, space, and resources needed to grow. Governors Island’s unique built, natural, and waterfront environments make it the ideal location to test out #climatetech products in a real-world environment. Previous piloting partners have been able to gain valuable insights, scale their businesses, and showcase their products to hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. The Climate Solutions Challenge is on–this year’s theme is #CircularEconomy, and the deadline to apply is December 5. Join us at govisland.org/challenge. The Trust for Gov­er­nors Island’s Cli­mate pro­grams are made pos­si­ble with the gen­er­ous sup­port of Amazon, Con Edison, Deutsche Bank, the Don­ald A. Pels Char­i­ta­ble Trust, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and The New York Community Trust. 📹: Ellie Parker

The Trust for Governors Island is proud to be one of more than 1,400 organizations from throughout New York to recently receive funding from New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature! Their support will help #GovIslandArts continue to bring its signature dynamic public artworks, performances, and programs to the nearly one million individuals that visit the Island each year. 📸: "The Open Orchard," Sam Van Aken, presented by #GovIslandArts. Photo by Timothy Schenck

This week, the Harbor Climate Collaborative hosted a Climate Technology Showcase, shining a light on 40+ of the different piloting projects that have been supported by the collaborative (which comprises the Trust for Governors Island, New York City Economic Development Corporation, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation). Together, these three mission-aligned public entities with sites along New York Harbor–all connected by NYC Ferry–are committed to making New York City the global capital of climate innovation through piloting programs, leases, workforce development investments, and more. Over the past year alone, 19 #greeneconomy founders and #climatetech companies completed or had an active pilot at one or more of the #HCC pilot sites, including the Governors Island Climate Solutions Challenge, New York City Economic Development Corporation's Pilots at BAT program, and Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation's Yard Labs–allowing innovations like autonomous carbon monitoring, in-home wastewater treatment, living shoreline innovations, EV charging, and so much more the space and resources to grow. More at https://lnkd.in/ekNW8fUU #NYCClimateTechShowcase #HarborClimateCollaborative

From May-October, #GovIslandArts presented four different performances as part of INTERVENTIONS, allowing artists and audiences alike to experience free dance, music, and poetry throughout the Island’s immersive outdoor spaces from a mix of local, national, and international artists. ✨ Inua Ellams: Search Party - The first-ever outdoor iteration of the internationally acclaimed artist’s chaotic, audience-led event prompted by audience suggestion and open conversation. ✨ Rena Anakwe - Sonic performance underneath the Liggett Hall arch featuring an untitled "work in progress" inspired by the element of Fire. ✨ Dance Heginbotham: You Look Like a Fun Guy - Open rehearsals in the Fort Jay moat of a choreographed piece (which debuted at Brooklyn Botanic Garden) exploring the compositions of John Cage along with the astonishing nature and behavior of fungi. ✨ Lenio Kaklea: Analphabetes - Dance performance consisting of three distinct levels of spectatorship—near, far, and very far away—that blended the environment with choreographic image. Co-presented with L'Alliance New York as part of the Crossing the Line Festival. Thank you to the hundreds of New Yorkers who came out for these performances, and stay tuned for info on INTERVENTIONS 2025. Gov­er­nors Island Arts presents its pro­gram with the vision­ary sup­port of the Ford Foundation, as well the Mellon Foundation, the Cha­ri­na Endow­ment Fund, the Don­ald R. Mullen Fam­i­ly Foun­da­tion, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Gottes­man Fund, the Don­ald A. Pels Char­i­ta­ble Trust, the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the sup­port of the Office of the Gov­er­nor and the New York State Legislature. 📸: Cirsty Burton