NEVADA – Burning Man 2020, which drew close to 80,000 to northern Nevada’s Black Rock Desert last year and was scheduled to return to the playa (dry lake bed) this year from Aug. 30 to Sept. 7, has been canceled. Organizers noted, however, that the theme for this year’s event, “The Multiverse,” will continue, but now apply to a virtual event held online.
“After much listening, discussion, and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision not to build Black Rock City in 2020,” the group noted on its website April 10. Given the painful reality of COVID-19, one of the greatest global challenges of our lifetimes, we believe this is the right thing to do.”
After explaining the long lead times that the participating artists needed to craft their various projects, the organizers noted the urgency of making a decision months ahead of time instead of taking a wait-and-see approach.
“Waiting would only cost the participants, the organization and the various cooperating agencies money and time,” the site noted, adding that organizers are “committed to providing refunds to those who need them,” and that “some of you who already purchased a ticket for the playa may need that money now more than ever.”
While noting that refunding ticket purchases is the right thing to do, the nonprofit that runs the event is facing significant financial challenges, citing “99 percent” of its income from ticket revenues, and a cancellation insurance policy that does not cover costs incurred by a pandemic.
“Whether you have already purchased a ticket, have been waiting for the Main Sale, or are simply supportive of our vision and mission — if you have the means, it is our sincerest hope that you will consider donating all or a portion of your ticket value, and/or making a tax-deductible donation to Burning Man Project. This is going to be a tough year for us, as we know it will be for you, but we will get through it together.”
With plans for constructing a physical Black Rock City set aside, organizers are focusing on a virtual version. [The Multiverse is] the theme for 2020 so we’re going to lean into it. Who’d have believed it would come true? We look forward to welcoming you to Virtual Black Rock City 2020. We’re not sure how it’s going to come out; it will likely be messy and awkward with mistakes. It will also likely be engaging, connective, and fun.”
After emerging as a beach bonfire event with a twist that included 35 participants on San Francisco’s Baker Beach in 1986, Burning Man first moved to Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada in 1990. The number of participants topped 1,000 in 1993, 10,000 in 1997 and 50,000 in 2010. Black Rock City is built and removed every year on BLM-managed public land, and attendance limits have been gradually applied since 2005, with restrictions set at 80,000 in 2019.
The website for Burning Man is www.burningman.org.
For more details and comments on the event’s cancellation, visit:
https://journal.burningman.org/2020/04/news/official-announcements/brc-2020-update/
