Skip to main content
search

Burning Nest 2025: Art Submissions

 

Do you dream of creating art for Nest? Here's how you can submit your ideas to access the community's art fund!

Art grants are available to all types of artistic visions, however this year we are excited to support large-scale interactive art installations - the kind that inspire wonder, invite participation, and are staples of larger burns. In other words, pieces that create immersive experiences that bring people together and embody the spirit of the burner community.

Whatever your idea, so long as it aligns with burner principles and meets the guidelines and funding criteria (if you’re requesting funding), we want to hear about it! Even if you’re not seeking funds, we still encourage you to apply—our team can support you in other ways, like helping with transport, electricity, or featuring your project in the WWW guide.

Our aim is to distribute the community’s funds to facilitate projects that are weird, kind, interesting, silly, important, or joyful; projects that spread a message, bring people together, and leave us all feeling the feels.

A strong application should include:

  • a detailed description of what you’re creating, accompanied by visuals if appropriate.
  • a budget with a realistic breakdown of costs.
  • a well-thought-out plan.
  • a clear consideration of Leave a Better Trace principles and health and safety measures.

This year, we will be using a new process of selecting successful art grant applications for projects over £500. Inspired by the Borderland Cobudget system, grants will be chosen via community vote, empowering participants and reflecting the community’s desires.

Process:

  • Submit an application detailing your project, based on criteria provided below.
  • Applications are reviewed by the Arts Circle, then published on the Nest website for the community to view. Projects below £500 will be chosen by the Arts Circle.
  • Ticket holders vote for their favourite projects.
  • Votes are converted into funding.
  • Results are shared, and participants can join projects that need help.

Previously, individual grant applications were capped at £1,600, 10% of the total budget of £16,000. with the budget increased to £20,000, the maximum amount a single project can apply for is £5,000. However, if the top voted projects in a single round total less than this amount, multiple projects will be allocated the funds of that round.

In other words, if you have a big idea for a show-stopping spectacle, this is your year!

This system empowers the Nest community to shape the art experience collaboratively.

Questions?

Check out the website and information below first; if you can’t find the answer please email us at arts@burningnest.co.uk

And remember, practice Radical Self-Reliance to make sure everything is correct before you submit.

Guidelines

  • Your application will need to include:
  • A description of you and your project/idea
  • Logistical and placement requirements
  • Power requirements (if relevant)
  • A health and safety and leave a better trace plan
  • Your budget

Things to think about when bringing art to Nest:

  • If the art is an outdoor structure, how will it be lit at night so participants don’t run into it and hurt themselves or break it?
  • Can it be built for easy transportation? How will you get the art to the site?
  • Are there any health hazards or danger to the environment?
  • Is it “moopy” i.e. will it create small pieces of material that could easily come off it?
  • How will it be set up to withstand any weather that could arrive - high speed winds, heavy rain, etc? Could it become a hazard in such an event? How can you secure it so it doesn’t?
  • What tools will be needed to build and strike the structure, or to maintain it, where will you get them and how will you get them to site?
  • How will you get the structure off the site and ensure you leave a better trace?

The Arts Circle expresses a preference towards projects that:

  • Are large-scale, high-impact art installations
  • Exist for the duration of the burn, not just one-time events
  • Encourage participation or are interactive
  • Are unique, weird or unexpected
  • Are good value for money
  • Incorporate nature and natural materials, and leave a better trace
  • Reusable for future
  • Are cohesive with the theme “Beneath the Aether”. Think: Nature art, earthy textures, undergrowth, overgrown nature, twisted roots, hidden creatures, luminous mushrooms, insects, microcosms, fairytales, surrealism, optical illusions, etc.

We can fund the following:

  • Materials to construct the piece
  • Hiring of equipment specifically for art projects (excluding equipment that will already be onsite or is to be used as camp infrastructure)

We are unlikely to fund the following:

  • Projects related to theme camps that camps are able to fund themselves
  • Previously created art (you are unlikely to receive funding for previously created art, but you should still apply as we are able to help with transport, electricity, WWW guide, etc)
  • One-time events, performances or experiences
  • Equipment or machinery
  • Expensive items that can be used after Nest (oven, printer etc.)
  • Storage fees
  • Building rental
  • Food. Is it directly relevant to the art project, like a prize to a game, or are you just feeding people?
  • Fuel / transport costs, though we will try to assist in organising transport

We will not fund the following:

  • Tools – artists must bring their own tools needed to build and strike their projects, and for any maintenance they may need during the week. Although Nest has some tools, these will be used by the build and strike team for general infrastructure and are prioritised for that purpose.
  • Payment for artists or performer’s time
  • Camp infrastructure (we recommend this comes from camp fees and your own fundraising as a camp).
  • DJ equipment
  • Rented camp infrastructure such as generators, stages, lighting and sound equipment
  • Tickets or transport for artists (artists and teams are encouraged to apply for low-income tickets if needed)
  • Commercial promotional materials
  • High powered lasers or anything deemed unsafe
  • Large gifts or swag
  • Solo projects that do not involve others or the community
  • Alcohol or other intoxicants
  • Anything illegal

Other restrictions

All art that includes fire must get approval of the health and safety team, and if approved, have adequate fire suppression materials on hand at all times and be attended by a competent, sober adult at all times that flames are present.

No contract means no art project on site. No health and safety plan submitted and approved (if requested by Edge of Chaos) means no art project on site.

Close Menu