Burning Man is an annual week-long event held in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, USA, focused on community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. It is not a festival, but rather a community and global cultural movement guided by 10 practical principles. The event culminates in the symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy, referred to as the Man, on the penultimate night of Burning Man, which is the Saturday evening before Labor Day.
Some key features of Burning Man include:
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Community: Burning Man is a participatory, temporary city where attendees are encouraged to participate, collaborate, be inclusive, creative, connective, and clean up after themselves.
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Art: A hallmark of Burning Man is large-scale interactive installation art inspired by the intersection of maker culture, technology, and nature. Many works invite participation through climbing, touch, technological interfaces, or motion. Creative expression through art is encouraged.
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Self-expression: Burning Man encourages attendees to express themselves in any way they choose, whether it be through art, music, dance, or other forms of creative expression.
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Self-reliance: Attendees are expected to be self-reliant and bring everything they need to survive in the desert environment, including food, water, shelter, and other supplies.
Burning Man is not a corporate-sponsored event, and attendees are encouraged to reject corporatism and capitalism. Instead of using money, attendees borrow, barter, and gift items to each other. Leaving no trace and care for the environment are fundamental values of the Burning Man community.
The Burning Man Project produces the annual Burning Man event in Black Rock City and provides year-round support, connection, education, and grants to an ever-growing network of Regional Burning Man communities in more than 40 US states and 35 countries.
