What Happened to Marina Abramović Institute?
The Marina Abramović Institute (MAI) was initially conceived as a physical center in Hudson, New York, dedicated to long-durational performance art and the Abramović Method. After a successful Kickstarter campaign and architectural designs, the physical building project was abandoned in 2017 due to prohibitive costs. Since then, MAI has evolved into a nomadic, global platform that supports and presents performance art worldwide, focusing on immaterial works, workshops, and collaborative projects, with significant activities continuing into 2026.
Quick Answer
The Marina Abramović Institute (MAI) initially aimed to establish a physical center in Hudson, New York, but this plan was abandoned in 2017 due to escalating costs. Rather than a fixed location, MAI now operates as a global, 'immaterial' platform dedicated to exploring, supporting, and presenting long-durational performance art and the Abramović Method. As of 2026, MAI continues to organize international exhibitions, workshops, and immersive projects, including 'THE BUS' at the World Economic Forum in Davos and a major exhibition in Venice, demonstrating its ongoing influence in contemporary art.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Marina Abramović Founds MAI and Buys Hudson Building
Marina Abramović establishes the Marina Abramović Institute (MAI) as a non-profit foundation for performance art and purchases a former theater in Hudson, New York, intended to house the institute.
MAI Achieves 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Status
The Marina Abramovic Institute For Preservation Of Performance Art Inc. is designated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in New York, NY.
OMA Commissioned for Hudson Institute Design
Abramović commissions OMA, led by Rem Koolhaas and Shohei Shigematsu, to design the physical institute in Hudson, New York, envisioning a space for long-durational performance and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Kickstarter Campaign Launched
MAI launches a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the design phase of the Hudson institute, seeking $600,000. Marina Abramović participates in a Reddit AMA to promote it.
Kickstarter Campaign Exceeds Goal
The Kickstarter campaign successfully raises $661,452 from 4,765 backers, exceeding its $600,000 goal, making it the most funded art project on Kickstarter at the time.
Hudson Institute Plans Abandoned
Marina Abramović announces the cancellation of the physical institute project in Hudson, New York, due to the prohibitive cost of $31 million for renovation, stating she could not raise the necessary funds.
MAI Addresses Fund Usage Controversy
Following media scrutiny, MAI clarifies that the $2.2 million raised, including Kickstarter funds, was spent on architectural schematics and feasibility studies by OMA, not on the renovation itself.
Shift to 'Immaterial' Institute Model
Abramović redefines MAI's mission, adopting a nomadic approach with the slogan 'Don't come to us; we come to you,' focusing on presenting performance art globally without a fixed physical building.
MAI Opens Space in Karyes, Greece
MAI establishes a physical space in Karyes, Greece, to support creative processes around performance art and host 'Cleaning the House' workshops.
'In Dialogue with Joseph Beuys' Exhibition
The Museum Schloss Moyland hosts 'Marina Abramović & MAI in Dialogue with Joseph Beuys,' featuring works from MAI and 13 new performances.
'THE BUS' Debuts at World Economic Forum
MAI collaborates on 'THE BUS,' an immersive installation and mobile exhibition space, which debuts at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, encouraging digital detox and the Abramović Method.
'Transforming Energy' Exhibition in Venice
Marina Abramović, with MAI's involvement, becomes the first living female artist to have a major exhibition, 'Transforming Energy,' at the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, presented during the 61st Venice Biennale Arte.
'Snowy/Windy/Spring on Planet Z' Opens in NYC
Marina Abramović unveils her latest installation, 'Snowy/Windy/Spring on Planet Z,' at the newly opened Balloon Museum in New York, marking a new direction in her interactive work.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Marina Abramović Institute (MAI) was founded in 2007 by the renowned performance artist Marina Abramović as a non-profit foundation dedicated to the preservation and presentation of performance art. Its initial vision was ambitious: to transform a 33,000-square-foot former theater in Hudson, New York, into a physical institute. Abramović acquired the building in 2007, and by 2012, she had commissioned the acclaimed architectural firm OMA, led by Rem Koolhaas and Shohei Shigematsu, to design the space. The proposed institute aimed to be a laboratory for time-based and immaterial art, fostering collaboration across art, science, technology, and education, and serving as a living archive for historic performance pieces.
To fund the design phase, MAI launched a highly publicized Kickstarter campaign in 2013, which successfully raised over $660,000, contributing to a total of $2.2 million in funds for the project's initial stages. The campaign garnered significant attention, partly due to celebrity endorsements, including Lady Gaga's participation in a video demonstrating the Abramović Method. The funds were specifically allocated for architectural schematics and feasibility studies. However, the estimated cost for the full renovation of the Hudson building soared from an initial $15-20 million to an unmanageable $31 million.
In October 2017, Marina Abramović announced the difficult decision to abandon the plans for the physical institute in Hudson, citing the insurmountable fundraising challenge. This decision led to questions regarding the use of the raised funds, to which MAI clarified that all money had been spent on the architectural design and studies by OMA. Following this pivotal moment, Abramović embraced a new philosophy for MAI, declaring that an institute for immaterial art could itself be immaterial. This shift was encapsulated in the new slogan: "Don't come to us; we come to you."
Since 2017, MAI has successfully transitioned into a nomadic and global platform, embodying its new 'immaterial' mission. It focuses on exploring, supporting, and presenting long-durational performance art and the Abramović Method through various international projects and collaborations. MAI actively organizes "Cleaning the House Workshops," which are designed to help participants reset their bodies and minds through long-durational exercises, open to individuals across all disciplines.
MAI's global presence has been significant, with major performance projects and presentations in cities such as Istanbul (2020), Amsterdam (2022), London (2023), and Adelaide (2024). In 2023, MAI also established a physical space in Karyes, Greece, dedicated to supporting creative processes in performance art. The institute continues to be a driving force in contemporary performance, demonstrating its adaptability and commitment to its core mission despite the initial setback of the Hudson project.
As of 2026, MAI remains highly active. In January 2026, MAI collaborated on "THE BUS," an immersive installation debuted at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This mobile exhibition space encourages digital detox and engagement with the Abramović Method, with plans to travel to Zurich to focus on mental well-being for young adults. Furthermore, Marina Abramović, with MAI's involvement, is set to be the first living female artist to have a major exhibition, "Transforming Energy," at the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice from May to October 2026. In August 2026, Abramović also unveiled a new installation, "Snowy/Windy/Spring on Planet Z," at the Balloon Museum in New York, further showcasing MAI's diverse and ongoing engagement with contemporary art forms.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Marina Abramović Institute made different choices?