Burning Man CEO Marian Goodell gave a 15-minute live update on the organization’s website this morning. The organization has not yet made a call about whether to hold its week-long event in the Black Rock Desert in August/September. Goodell stressed that the decision will be based on several factors, but the organization’s financial health would not be among them. She thanked the 21,000+ people who’ve donated money to help the organization stay afloat over the past year.

Goodell said that several of the Burning Man’s related projects are still underway. For complete details, including a video of Goodell’s talk, visit the Burning Man Journal. Here are some highlights:

  • A donation came in that left Burning Man with $1 million earmarked for art projects, and the artists who were selected for honorariums in 2020 will receive their grants this spring. They’re being encouraged to make their art pieces whether the 2021 event is a go or not. (Burning Man artists often find additional exhibition opportunities for their playa pieces at other festivals, and sometimes as public art pieces in cities.) (You can meet the Nevada and Tahoe honorarium artists right here on Double Scoop.)
  • The “Multiverse,” a virtual version of Burning Man developed in 2020, will continue. It involves a corucopia of online events and media, easily accessible on Kindling.
  • General ticket sales will not be launched until further notice, as the org aims to avoid possible ticket return chaos if the 2021 event is put on hold. Art teams and theme camps can get on a waiting list now, and 1,000 ticket reservations will be available, each at $2,500. A reserved ticket will be good for entrance to the next two playa events, in whichever years they may happen.
  • The Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) at Fly Ranch is slated to proceed as planned. It’s an incubator for creative art and architectural projects that address various forms of environmental sustainability. According to LAGI’s website, “In 2021 selected design teams will be provided an honoraria grant for the purpose of building a functional prototype on site.”

A video LAGI launched last year has more detail:

Posted by Kris Vagner

Kris Vagner is Double Scoop’s Editor & Publisher.

2 Comments

  1. Fingers crossed that it’s a go…our annual Dragon Boat festival is a no go for the second time😖
    XO
    Mom

  2. I think a HUGE part of the story is that this year will be a “vaccine Required” year.

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