Burning Man art is an expression of the participatory, inclusive and interactive ethos of the culture. It removes the distinction between artist and audience, inviting all to create, connect and play.
The Wild Tail of ANIMALIA
And just like that, the global Burning Man community imagined, built, experimented and explored its way through another 12-month cycle. Whether you are tied to the Black Rock City event cadence, or involved with multiple other Burning Man happenings throughout the year (maybe all of the above!) our 2023 AfterBurn is chock-a-block with learnings.
Burning Man Project is the nonprofit that collaborates with the community to produce Black Rock City and nurture the global Burning Man cultural movement. We’ve published an AfterBurn annually since 2001; it serves as a space for collective memory, and an educational tool to unpack and share what was accomplished, learned and unlearned. Dive in.
So let’s get into it. Here are some highlights.
Art that Frolicked, Purred and Preened
In 2023 the humanimals and all manner of fauna came to frolic in the vast Black Rock Desert. Among the art installations that rose on playa, 45% spoke to the ANIMALIA theme. There were fantastical creatures, wild and elusive forest beings, domesticated animal friends, and several Latin American creatures — including “Quetzalcoatl,” an “Axolotl” and “Alebrijes.”
43% of all funded Art had a female lead. The Honoraria Program prioritized funding artworks led by women artists. Temple of the Heart had a female co-lead, Ela Madej, whose design blossomed with floral elements. Across the playa, solar was all the rage — dozens of art installations were powered by solar technology.
And Then the Rain Came
2023 felt delightfully, predictably, on track with a smooth beginning to Black Rock City. Then it went from smooth, to damp, to slippery and sticky.
Let’s pause to acknowledge the heroic work of all Black Rock City citizens and the Playa Restoration crew – everyone contributed to an amazing Leave No Trace masterclass!
Gatherings, Creativity and Innovation Year Round
Beyond the Black Rock Desert, the Burning Man Project nonprofit brought people together to plan, dream, and celebrate in a myriad of ways. Fly Ranch hosted several community campouts, including the annual Burners Without Borders Spring Summit. After a hiatus, San Francisco Burnal Equinox and Decompression were back with bells on — thanks to the intrepid Community Events team.
Years of behind-the-scenes innovation made it possible for the Off Fossil Fuels and Sustainability teams to test and roll out new solar infrastructure on Burning Man Project’s Northern Nevada properties, and in Black Rock City. To support community innovation, the Green Corridor emerged to serve as an experimental neighborhood in Black Rock City that showcased sustainability initiatives.
Sharing stories is at the very heart of this cultural movement — whether gathered around a campfire, or crafting tales in digital space. Burning Man Project’s Communications team stoked the digital fires with storytelling via the Burning Man Journal, while keeping the community informed through the Jackrabbit Speaks newsletter and our effervescent social media channels. Powered by the Philosophical Center, the Burning Man LIVE podcast rolled out a carnival of audio conversations with fascinating humans within and adjacent to the global Burning Man cultural movement.
A Wildly Dynamic and Inventive Force in the World
Burning Man — Black Rock City, 87 Regional Events and countless projects, communities and happenings around the world — is so much more than the sum of its parts. It’s as wild and diverse and eclectic as every person who feels drawn to this movement. Behind every section you read in this AfterBurn report, there are hundreds of people who imagine and show up, who create and build, who contribute to this ever-evolving culture in ways that are impossible to quantify.
Keep it up, dusty pals. The world needs more Burning Man.