Artworks and Performance
So here’s the deal: AfrikaBurn isn’t a music festival. And because it’s not a music festival, there are no DJ or live band lineups, and no headliners. In the dust, it’s the projects that are the headliners – and even those are largely only revealed on arrival.
What AfrikaBurn is, is a self-organised experiment where you’re invited to create and collaborate. To find out how you can be part of the experiment by creating art or music, see below.
Anything’s possible on the flat dusty plain of Tankwa Town – and you don’t have to be an artist or a performer either; all it takes is an idea, and the will to make it happen. Collaborate or don’t, whether you’re a pro or not, it’s simply about self-expression. Go as big or as small as you like: the only limits are your imagination.
With that said, it is important to take responsibility. Anyone making a commitment to creating art at Tankwa Town must take responsibility for all aspects of that creation. From filling out the art registration form, participating in dialogue with the Art Wranglers, arriving at Tankwa Town, protecting your art, lighting it, maintaining your artwork during the event to cleanup at the end. It’s not a small undertaking but it is massively gratifying and Tankwa Town will love your gift.
In this page you will find all the info you need about:
- Creating Art in Tankwa Town
- Burning Art
- Creative Project Registrations
- Creative Grants
- Clan
- Team Up & Get Involved
CREATING ART IN TANKWA TOWN
Interested in creating art? Great! Read this:
Things to think about if you want to make art at AfrikaBurn.
BURNING ART
Heads up: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BURN YOUR ART!
In fact, we strongly encourage you to consider creating art that can be dismantled and re-purposed – as building materials for disadvantaged communities, or to live beyond the event, and bring joy to communities who could use some. Could your piece become a jungle gym, for some kids who’ve never had one? Maybe those beams could be used in building a roof? Think about how your piece will make a difference in the world.
If you’re thinking about making art to burn, please read about building art to burn. And if you’re thinking about making art that will go on to have a second life, mail [email protected] so we can assist you with your plans.
CREATIVE PROJECT REGISTRATIONS
We invite you to register your project by filling in one of the registration forms online. But before you submit your registration, remember:
- To register your project, you need log into our site with your Burner Bio details
- After you log into your Bio, you can either register a new Collective (or re-use the one that you created last year).
- Please read below how we classify the type of projects and which form you should use to register yours.
- You’ll find all the forms you might need here: tribe.afrikaburn.org
ARTWORKS
Artworks are stand-alone physical structures built and placed on the Binnekring. They may burn or not.
Registering an Artwork secures that your artwork will have a pre-allocated spot in Tankwa Town. But it does not secure that you will have a pre-allocated camp spot.
Registering an Artwork to your Collective allows you to apply for a Creative Grant – and if your registration happens before March 27 2022, your Artwork can be listed in the WTF Guide (our event guide) and also (probably) on our event app.
PERFORMANCES
You have a performance piece? Great!
If your Performance involves its own physical structure built and placed on the Binnekring, you will have to register it as an Artwork. Then list the actual performances as a “Binnekring Event” whether it is at an existing artwork, theme camp or mutant vehicle, or anywhere really, wherever whenever you feel it is right.
BINNEKRING EVENTS
Got something special in mind that’s not exactly a performance and not exactly a classic artwork but you want to put it out there on the Binnekring? Binnekring Events is the category for the listing of anything on the performance/gift/art juggling, musical, fire dancing freakshow spectrum that should be listed in the WTF Guide event schedule so that people can find it. This is where you list your “Mutant Vehicle Polo game”, your “bloody Mary extravaganza”, your parade, poetry reading…etc. Tankwa Town is your stage and your audience will find you!
If you want to make sure our community knows about what you have in store, and can find it in the dust, register your Binnekring Event – before March 27th 2022 – and your Event can be listed in the WTF Guide and mobile app.
For more info on Performances and Binnekring Events, click here.
MUTANT VEHICLES
A motorised piece of mobile art is called a Mutant Vehicle and they can include… anything, really: Couches. Bars. Jellyfish. Bees. Mice. Bunnies. Zebra. Pacman. As long as the vehicle has been significantly modified, then it can be classed as a Mutant Vehicle. If not, it doesn’t roll in Tankwa Town.
Does your piece move by means of a motor? If it does, please register a Mutant Vehicle.
Please note there’s no Creative Grants for 2022.
Need info on Mutant Vehicles? Find that here.
THEME CAMPS
Theme Camps are designed and created with the intention of welcoming, engaging and entertaining other participants. Think of them as little villages within the larger village of Tankwa Town. Is your project a camp that requires a pre-allocated amount of space in a predetermined camping area of Tankwa Town? If so, please register a Theme Camp.
Once your Theme Camp is accepted as such, you will be able to request placement. Do not register a Theme Camp if you you are just looking for placement and are not planning on having a public gift in your space.
Registering a Theme Camp does NOT allow you to apply for any grant.
If your Theme Camp has a specific artistic aspect to it, you can register your Artwork and then apply for a Creative Grant (but features that are integral part of the Theme Camp and cannot stand independently of it can’t be considered for a grant).
For info on Theme Camps, click here.
NOTE: Theme Camp registrations close on February 28 2022.
CREATIVE GRANTS
Please note there’s no Creative Grants for 2022.
Creative Grants are intended to help enable creative expression in Tankwa Town. If you have an Artwork or Performance project but you need financial assistance to bring it to life, you’re eligible to apply for a Creative Grant (if you’re looking to apply for a Mutant Vehicle Grant, you’ll find that info here).
Please read everything about Creative Grants before you apply, thanks.
The deadline for Creative Grant applications is midnight 25th October 2019.
CLAN
Our Clan sculpture is a physical representation of the spirit of AfrikaBurn: it consists of a torso with many heads and many legs and represents our community, as one. Find out more about the history of the Clan here.
Each year, the Clan is our central effigy and is built by members of our community – and you could possibly build the Clan, as anyone’s able to submit a proposal to design or build the Clan. If you’re interested please read the Clan Guidelines, then draft your Clan proposal and send it to [email protected]
Don’t panic if it doesn’t look perfect, just like you’re envisioning your piece. It’s only a proposal and a work in progress.
There’s been no Clan submission process this year, as the Clan Crew from 2020 would still love to execute their amazing concept.
TEAM UP AND GET INVOLVED
Practice Communal Effort and make it happen!
Whether you are planning on bringing your very own creative project, or not, if art is your thing and you want to get involved in creative collaboration, this is for you.
ARTeria
Do you love the Tankwa art scene and want to get involved with all of it at the same time? – You can!
Read about the different ways you can enable art in Tankwa Town and support the artists in their creative endeavors, at the ARTeria.
Volunteer on Artworks
Building art in Tankwa is an extraordinary experience and a great undertaking. Possibly one of the most gratifying things that can happen to you at AfrikaBurn is working yourself really hard on building something beautiful.
Do you think you could and would like to help make it happen? Then become an Artwork Volunteer!
Community Directory
Our community values creative cooperation and collaboration.
Are you a performer looking for a space to do your thing? Check out the projects that are looking for performers. Do you want to get involved, but you’re not sure how? See what the creatives crews are asking for.
Visit our Community Directory.
ANYTHING ELSE?
Please send an email to [email protected]
