Apply now to be a Regional Contact
October 2023: This search is now closed. Read up on the Portland Region here.
The Burning Man Project is opening up the process to empower Burners living in Portland to better support cultural growth across the entire region.
The BMP team is now searching for community members, in collaboration with local leaders, to contribute their spark and step into this leadership role. Regional Contacts volunteer year-round to build and nurture Burning Man community initiatives on a local level. They facilitate communication and collaboration with and between local community members, various local community groups and the Burning Man Regional Network Team. Could this be YOU?
If you live in the Portland area year-round and are interested in becoming a Burning Man Regional Contact, please read about the Regional Network, search process, and Regional Leadership Criteria.
RC application instructions:
Email regional-network@burningman.org: please add Portland Regional Contact in the subject line and introduce yourself. Share more about your local involvement and your relevant leadership experience.
Complete the Volunteer Questionnaire https://profiles.burningman.org/volunteer. Log into your Burner Profile and complete this survey. You MUST CHECK “Regional Contacts” as one of your 3 teams in order for us to receive this form. If you have already filled out a VolQ form, please check that you’ve indicated “Regional Contacts” as one of your areas of interest.
Photo Credit: Cindy Graver
Art: Seeing Burning Man
Year: 2015
Help a Ukrainian cultural ambassador get to SOAK!
Precipitation Northwest and the Burning Man Project have petitioned the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Policy Information (MCIP) with a formal invitation for Ukrainian cultural ambassador, Sergii Dumyk, to attend SOAK*2023 where he will demonstrate his invention the Showerloop. In addition to his work cultivating the Ukrainian Burner community, Sergii is also a former recipient of a Burners without Borders microgrant.
According to the MCIP, Sergii is approved to arrive in the United States in mid-May. While Precipitation Northwest is able to cover the admission costs to SOAK for Sergii, there are additional expenses involved for his travel, accommodation, and support. Find out more about how you can support this effort at GoFundMe: Help Ukrainian Cultural Ambassador Go to America.
Ukrainian flag image licensed by Creative Commons.
Boost your Burner projects by collaborating with Precipitation Northwest!
Calling all Portland-area Burners! This is your friendly periodic reminder that Precipitation Northwest, your local 501(c)3 non-profit supporting Burning Man culture in Oregon, is here to support YOU.
What does that mean? In addition to our work in overseeing the production of SOAK (Oregon’s Regional Burn) and Burnout (Portland Decompression), we are always actively looking for other projects, theme camps, and ideas to support.
Current programs include supporting local beach and park cleanups, hosting clothing swaps for the community, and assisting our local Burners without Borders chapter as needed. If your project centers the Ten Principles, supports your Burning Man or SOAK Camp, or otherwise serves the Burner community, we’re here for you!
What Precipitation Northwest can offer:
Promotion of your event, activity or creation to the greater Pacific Northwest Burner community and beyond
Advice and guidance on creating a fun and effective program
Logistical assistance with technology and event production
Introductions to similar artists, makers, or organizations in the region
Access to Precipitation Northwest resources including the Burner Barn workshop space and equipment
All applications will be initially reviewed by the Precipitation Northwest Programs Committee within 21 business days of receipt.
Questions? Email programs@precipitationnw.org
Photo by Kyle McCallum.
Precipitation Northwest’s mission is to foster opportunities for participatory art, civic engagement, and leadership development. Our organization seeks not only to build bridges between the vibrant, creative, and artistic burner community and others in the Portland metro area, but also to provide opportunities for skill building, arts education, and leadership development. We aim to achieve this by offering participatory, decommodified, and interactive events and programs to the community.
Burning Man Town Hall (now with slides!)
Update, February 14: Thank you to everyone who attended Burning Man Portland Town Hall 2023! Find the complete slides here.
Burning Man Portland Town Hall - February 11, 2023 from 2pm - 5pm.
Portland/Oregon Burners, pull up a virtual chair and get ready to gather 'round the monitor again -- it's learnin' 'bout Burnin' time again!
With Burning Man and SOAK just around the corner, representatives from SOAK*2023, Burning Man Portland, and Precipitation Northwest are looking forward to gathering with YOU!
Plan to attend if you'd like to...
* Know the latest news from Black Rock City
* Get the deets on tickets for SOAK* 2023
* Brainstorm on ways to connect with fellow Burners for community service & fun
* Meet the SOAK Leadership Team & Precipitation Northwest Board
* Learn about the financials for SOAK & Precipitation Northwest
* And more (email us with your ideas)?!
Please email us if you'd like to present on your project or if you require any accommodations to attend/participate in this event: info@precipitationnw.org / portland@burningman.org
At this time, this event is scheduled to be fully virtual.
Update, February 1: Want to connect in person after Town Hall? Join us at Woosday at the Space Room (4800 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97215) afterward! This is an unofficial (no official host) happy hour where folks are welcome to meet up. Swing by and come say hi to anyone who looks like a Burner. RSVP on Facebook here.
Announcing SOAK*2023!
Precipitation Northwest is pleased to announce that SOAK*2023 will be held May 25 - May 29!
All updates for ticketing information, theme camp applications, volunteer opportunities, and much more will be shared on www.soakpdx.com.
See you out there!
Photo: SOAK*2022 by Kyle McCallum.
Announcing new Board Members for 2023!
Exciting updates! Precipitation Northwest is thrilled to announce that three new board members are joining us in 2023. Welcome to Liz Pittinos, Abigail Alder, and Suzanne Mehta, who each have great experience building community in Burning Man culture for Oregon, along the West Coast, and over many years in Black Rock City. We encourage you to read more about our board members! You can find their photos, bios, and committee involvement on our Board of Directors page.
This is also a time to announce board member transitions, as Danielle Parks, Molly Harpel, and Alexander LaVake have contributed over several years in making SOAK & Burnout great regional events while also finding ways to bring the Ten Principles to our broader community. Precipitation Northwest enthusiastically says thank you to all three departing board members for their years of service and wish them the best in all of their future endeavors!
Every fall, the Precipitation Northwest board interviews interested applicants for open board member positions. Board member terms are typically three years.
SOAK 2022 | photo: tightpants
(cancelled) Art Grant Writing Workshop for Burning Man, Regionals and Public Events
“Paradisium” by Dave Keane & Folly Builders, 2022 (Image courtesy of the artists). Burning Man 2022 Honoraria Recipient.
Art Grant Writing Workshop for Burning Man, Regionals and Public Events
Update: Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been cancelled.
Location: Burner Barn (900 N Columbia Blvd, Portland, OR 97217)
Have an amazing idea for art to bring to Burning Man 2023? Learn how to navigate the application process at this Honoraria Workshop, hosted by (four time!) honoraria veteran Wolf and Precipitation Northwest! Learn about the Honoraria Process here.
It's that time of year again! You've got a fantastic idea for a stupendously amazing (and maybe costly) art piece. But maybe you don’t know how to navigate the application process… or you’ve written them in the past and they didn’t get accepted… or you just want pointers on how to make your proposal better?
Wolf will be holding a *FREE* one-time discussion on the grants application process as it applies to Burning Man Arts and regionals... from the viewpoint of an artist. In addition to receiving multiple grants from the Burning Man project, Wolf has also received grants from both East and West Coast regional events.
This session will cover:
Pitfalls where many artists stumble, and how to avoid them
Better ways to write your project description
How to write budget estimates
Guidelines on how much $$ to request
Insights into what review committees look for
The Burning Man Letter of Intention (LOI) process is currently open, with all applications due by November 17. The Precipitation Northwest/SOAK* Art Provisions process begins in early 2023. This session is open to all interested parties and is relevant to regional events, the Big Burn and even applying for local municipal grants.
This event will be held in person at the Burner Barn and streamed online via Zoom. This session will not be recorded. Zoom link posted prior to event.
Image credit:“Paradisium” by Dave Keane & Folly Builders, 2022 (Image courtesy of the artists). Burning Man 2022 Honoraria Recipient.
Seeking SOAK*2023 producers!
Precipitation Northwest is seeking producers for SOAK*2023!
As a SOAK producer, you will create Oregon’s largest regional Burning Man event, SOAK.
Interviews begin immediately, so apply today! Read the position description, and find the link to apply here.
Questions? Reach out to recruitment@precipitationnw.org.
Header photo by Whit Gurley.