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March 2023

Mar 29

Offer an Event

By Community, Nest 2023

So you’ve clinched a precious Nest ticket for 2023, or you're anticipating one of our delicious future ticket releases... and now you're wondering how to get involved next!

Well, lucky for you, you've found our four part series on How To Maximise Your Burning Nest Experience (Or Any Burn, For That Matter!)

We're firm believers that you get out what you put in. Here are four excellent ways that even first time burners can get involved:

  1. Bring a Theme Camp

  2. Make Art

  3. Offer An Event

  4. Volunteer

 

The icing on the cake of any burn experience is workshops, parties, and events! This is an amazing way to contribute any of your skills and talents, hidden or otherwise, that don’t necessarily fit into any of the other categories. Or maybe they do, and you’ve simply got more to give! Either way, we’re here for it.

 

WHAT KIND OF EVENTS CAN I OFFER?

Literally… anything. As long as it’s not going to endanger other Nestlings or infringe on their right to consent, you can pull forth any form of ridiculousness you like.

Here are some events we’ve loved from previous burns:

  1. Workshops to build your skills - leatherwork and poi spinning, for example

  2. Illegal Vibrator Racing (a Kiwiburn classic)

  3. Sounds baths (oosh, so delicious - you literally feel like your brain has been washed)

  4. Dance parties (high levels of bass encouraged)

  5. Sparkle Pony Shaming and Support

  6. Breathwork and guided meditation

  7. Kitty kat cafe (hint: no actual cats involved)

The list goes on - but meeting up with other Nestlings who are interested in the same events as you is epic. If it wasn’t enough that you both chose Nest, you also both chose *this* crazy thing! Sounds like you’ll be great friends.

 

WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED?

Another great question - look at you go!

 

HOW DO I SUBMIT AN EVENT?

We’re glad you asked! There are two routes: independently or with (some) Theme Camps.

Anybody can host an event anytime at Nest. In that case, use the general submission form:  https://forms.gle/8px7g176q7MdkCkt5. Note: The Point is a public space available for different kinds of events! Timings will be allocated on a first come, first served basis so get your events in soon!

If you want to run your event at a particular Theme Camp, you have to communicate with them first! Many camps have their own events sign-up process. Some camps have more formal applications: 

Other camps may be open to hosting events as well. Learn more about them and contact them directly from the Theme Camps page.

Depending on the camp, either they will upload your event for you, or you will still have to use the general submission form. 

WHY SHOULD I OFFER AN EVENT?

Firstly, did you read the inspirational list of shenanigans above?! Nest is a place in which “if you can dream it, you can do it” applies… but it’s also a do-ocracy. Which means if you want to see it happening in the world, congratulations - it’s up to you to make it work! Even if you’ve got an idea, and no idea how to execute it - never fear. Our Facebook group is a wonderful place to drop a shout-out and see who else might want to join you in bringing your vision to life. Don’t be shy!

 

SO WHERE DO I SUBMIT MY EVENT?

Once more for those in the back 😉 We’d love to see your events and be able to share your plans in our What Where When guide! The submission deadline is April 20th 2023. Press the "Submit" Button below for the application form.

 

Note: If you're offering some sort of amazing immersive experience, sometimes you could even apply for an Art Grant to help bring your dream to life! Art grants are technically closed for 2023 but there may still be funding available. And definitely bear this in mind for your 2024 shenanigans!

Mar 13

Make Art

By Art, Nest 2023

So you’ve clinched a precious Nest ticket for 2023, or you're anticipating one of our delicious future ticket releases... and now you're wondering how to get involved next!

Well, lucky for you, you've found our four part series on How To Maximise Your Burning Nest Experience (Or Any Burn, For That Matter!)

We're firm believers that you get out what you put in. Here are four excellent ways that even first time burners can get involved:

  1. Bring a Theme Camp

  2. Make Art

  3. Offer An Event

  4. Volunteer

 

WHAT EVEN IS ART?

Without getting too existential about it, Art at Nest is stuff you create. This could be an installation, music, a workshop, a sculpture, a strange happening, a colourful mural, a comedy show, an extraordinary light-up LED glowscape, or a performance of stilt-wearing dancers dressed as bumblebees. If you can make it, most likely the Nest art circle will deem it art. 

For practical purposes we have two categories of art:

  1. Things - this is physical art. It’s the installations, sculptures, murals and extraordinary light-up LED glowscapes of this world.

  2. Events - art bound by time, ie the time written on the programme. Events include your music, workshops, strange happenings, comedy shows, and dancing stilt-wearing bumblebees.

The rest of part 2 talks about art Things, go to part 4 for more on Events. (Still to come)

 

WHAT KIND OF ART THINGS CAN I MAKE?

Whatever you’d like to, Burner festivals exist to provide a space for radical self-expression, so think about what this means for your art. As long as it’s not going to endanger other Nestlings or go against any of our principals, we want you to make it. This is a space for creatives to experiment and see what happens when we are allowed to just…see what happens. 

We also have two BIG art projects each year  - the Effigy and the Temple - that during the event go up in flames, apply if you want to build some big burning art. 

 

HOW DO I BRING ART TO NEST

Submit an art application to tell us what you want to do and get access to grant money to buy the things you need to make it happen. If your project doesn’t need funding send an application anyway so we can make sure it passes health and safety and that we find a beautiful space for you to put it.

 

WHY SHOULD I BRING ART TO NEST 

Nest is an incredible opportunity to realise the art you’ve had swimming around your head. This is your chance to share what's inside your brain. If you have an arty itch you just need to scratch, Nest is the place. 

WHY DON'T YOU PAY FOR ARTISTS' TIME

We know that artists are often expected to work for free, it sucks and we don’t support this. One of the principals of a Burn is to operate outside of normal economic systems. It is part of the experiment that explores a society without commerce where everyone participates freely. Art is one way of participating, so if we pay artists, we’d also pay everyone else, and then we become a business instead of a bunch of humans co-creating something. Think of Nest as a giant camping trip co-created by 1000 mates, rather than a traditional festival. 

 

WHAT ARE ART GRANTS ALL ABOUT?

Think of art grants like a giant kitty that you and your 1000 mates pooled together to help each other pull off some amazing stuff. Art grants are paid for from your ticket price, which also pays for other helpful things like toilets because at least some of your 1000 mates are responsible adults. 

 

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO GETS ART GRANTS? 

We want to fund everything you want to make, and there have been years where everyone applying received a grant. When there are more applications than grant money available we prioritise based on the criteria. We also look at the feasibility of proposals, as we don’t want to use the collective funds on projects that aren’t possible. Health and safety is also a factor, as we don’t want any art injuries. 

The art team doesn't run the show, we simply run the process so that you can run the show. Anyone is welcome to get involved with the grant decision committee, tell us their thoughts on the grant process, or join the art team to help. 

 

HOW CAN I FIND PEOPLE TO COLLABORATE WITH?

If you’ve got an idea but don’t know quite how to make it happen our Signal group is open for business, see what’s brewing, get advice, ask for help, or offer your support to others.

 

CAN I IGNORE THE THEME AND MOOD BOARD?

Sure. They are jumping off points, take them in whatever direction you need, or ignore them entirely.

 

      
Mar 08

Bring a Theme Camp

By Community, Nest 2023, Theme Camps

So you’ve clinched a precious Nest ticket for 2023, or you're anticipating one of our delicious future ticket releases... and now you're wondering how to get involved next!

Well, consider this the first in our four part series on How To Maximise Your Burning Nest Experience (Or Any Burn, For That Matter!)

We're firm believers that you get out what you put in. Here are four excellent ways that even first time burners can get involved:

  1. Bring a Theme Camp

  2. Make Art

  3. Offer An Event

  4. Volunteer

Applications for theme camps are closing on the 15th. There is still time to start your application! Just fill in what you can so far, plant your flag and open up a conversation. 

WHAT IS A THEME CAMP

A Theme Camp appears when a collection of humans get together to co-create their vision of a communal space that’s on offer for all Nestlings to enjoy. Amplify your wildest ideas with like-minded humans, and make an epic space in the process!

 

WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?

Theme camps are, among other things, mini venues that facilitate a lot of the goings-on at Nest. Want to host a workshop, throw a party, or play some music? You probably want a space to do that in. It’d be a pretty empty glade without Theme Camps!

 

WHAT OTHER CAMPS EXIST?

Take inspiration from our existing camps: https://burningnest.co.uk/participation/theme-camps/

Or check out offerings from other burns! Jump over to the websites for Burning Man, Afrikaburn, Nowhere or Borderlands to check out some of their previous camps. Kiwiburn alone had some 80+ camps this year, so there’s plenty of ideas to get your brain ticking.

 

WHY DO PEOPLE CREATE THEME CAMPS?

Be the change you want to see in the world

Ever wished there was more dancing/snug space/food offerings/gremlin cave vibes that you could experience at a burn? Lucky for you, this is a do-ocracy - which means you’re responsible for making it happen! You can have exactly the experience you want to have. Just grab some likeminded humans and get creating!

Find a friend… and another, and another, and another…

Bring together Nestlings like you with similar passions and interests. We’ve got this "missed connections" spreadsheet, Facebook, WhatsApp and Signal groups where you can recruit fellow participants - even if you’re brand new. Put the call out and see what happens. 

Food, glorious food

Sharing a camp kitchen and/or meal plan is a great motivator for joining a group who plan to eat together. Plenty of people don’t like carting the kitchen sink to the burn; if you can delegate that job to only one person in your camp instead of everyone having to do it, it’s a win for Communal Effort and Leave a Better Trace.

Play that funky music

Maybe you’re a DJ, maybe you just really love a particular type of music and want to enjoy it in the Glade. This is a great way to make sure your tastes are represented, and facilitate that same option for other Nestlings.

You better WORK(shop)

Same goes here as for the music. If you think it would be amazing to have a zen garden space to host your breathwork, or a hookah lounge for your intro to shisha class, or a floor area suitable for your dance class/jiu jitsu bout/model train workshop, then you can explore what it would be like to have a purpose-built space.

Put your money where your mouth is

If you resonate with any of the above, banding together as a theme camp is a great way to split costs and spread the load on bringing your dream to life!

WHAT ARE THE PERKS OF BEING AN OFFICIAL THEME CAMP?

Placement A great placement spot according to your requirements. This may also include camping near your camp for your crew

Power Link in to the Nest grid. We can work on better, eco-friendlier power solutions together. Generators are not permitted. 

Sound A direct line to our sound lead who works collaboratively with you to ensure your parties don't get shut down or cause our event licence to be revoked (this is very important! We have very specific sound requirements on our licence and the council does visit site to check!)

Advertisement and promotion of your theme camp to participants in newsletters and on our website for recruitment of camp members, as well as your events in the What Where When guide.

Support A direct line into other event leads such as LNT, Community, and Consent who can help you with making sure your camp plays a part in protecting and safeguarding our culture and principles, and how best to fulfill any other community agreements which are important to enable us to keep putting on the event and for your theme camp to be able to come back year after year.

 

I'M CONVINCED. WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

Get your applications started before March 15th 2023.  It’s okay if not everything is finalised or you haven’t recruited all your members just yet - just get as much down as you can to let us know you’re keen, and reserve your spot on the Glade. Make sure to hit submit on the form! You can come back and edit later. 

      
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