Afrika Burns Creative Projects NPC

Afrika Burns Creative Projects exists to advance a culture of creativity: upholding and promoting freedom and diversity of expression, inclusive community building and volunteerism with the aim of fostering positive social change, which:

• Creates a blank canvas to actualise and promote a wide spectrum of arts and culture in South Africa at and through the annual AfrikaBurn and other events;
  • Implements developmental, creative social outreach projects that uplift and include the marginalised and underprivileged;
  • Innovates and collaborates with local and international partners to foster cultural, skills and knowledge exchange in the AfrikaBurn community, the Burning Man Regional Network and beyond;
  • Implements and supports projects which enrich education, provide bursary support, preserve and regenerate the planet and protect non-human life from abuse and degradation. Implements and supports projects which enrich education, provide bursary support, preserve and regenerate the planet and protect non-human life from abuse and degradation.

Current projects -

AfrikaBurn:
A community of participants who gather in the remote and isolated Tankwa Karoo, South Africa, to create art, performance, cultural practice, theme camps, music, mutant vehicles and much, much more. It is the spectacular result of a volunteer and gifting culture, supported by creative and access grants that seek to support diverse African expression and non conformist art. AfrikaBurn is a week-long event in a temporary city of trans-disciplinary arts and culture, at the end of April each year.

The event supports the community of the Tankwa Karoo through funding the learners at the local farm school Elandsvlei through primary and high schooling. It also acts to conserve the local culture of the karretjie mense (donkey cart people), by creating access to veterinary animal welfare services, through community outreach.

Streetopia:
Flooding the streets of Observatory, Cape Town with creativity, Streetopia is a free community-based arts event promoting a safer street culture for all. AfrikaBurn has been the anchor partner for the project since 2015, which enjoys recognition as a "special event" as part of the Cape Town's calendar.

Activities we are currently fundraising for -

RISE (Resilience in Shared Endeavour):
A co-created immersive programme based at Quaggafontein in the Tankwa Karoo desert, that integrates two focal areas: practical skills development, and creative dialogues on women in society. Content is developed and implemented participant facilitators to encourage everyone to share their wisdom in the experience. The inaugural programme in 2021 brought together 40 women and non-binary people together to create life-shaping moments that resulted in a strong and active network of peers. Our aim is this becomes an annual gathering and a growing network. rise.afrikaburn.com

Hammerschool:
Actualised as a pilot programme during the pandemic, Hammerschool is a hands on learning experience in the artisanal basics of metalwork, carpentry, light electrics and working with recycled materials. It aims to bring the desert learning experience of the Department of Public Works team to an urban environment and infuse it with design thinking and public art appreciation. The initial cycle of 6 workshops empowered 40 women and non-binary people, who in the main were from marginalised communities with new skills. Our goal is to expand the programme and create a springboard to annual work opportunities within DPW. hammerschool.afrikaburn.com

Other activities -

EcoTrip:
Fun-filled permaculture events at the homestead on Quaggafontein. Hands on skills sharing and nature immersion in the veld, learning about local heritage, ecology and regenerative living. ecotrip.afrikaburn.com

Decompression:
A post-burn gathering of the AfrikaBurn community, in celebration of the creative achievements of a growing cultural network.

Organisation background -

Afrika Burns Creative Projects was established in 2007 as a Non-Profit Company and registered as a Public Benefit Organisation in 2020. It serves as the strategic driver of the culture shared across the Burning Man Regional Network, which is underpinned by the principles of: participation, radical inclusion, decommodification, communal effort, immediacy, radical self reliance, gifting, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, radical self expression and each one teach one.