Questions & Answers
Do you only provide for funded artists?
When we started, we had no way to independently verify who is really an “art crew” and who is just a group of people looking for a meal, so we have to rely on BM’s art grant vetting process to make that determination for us. Then, in 2009, we expanded the program to include unfunded artists that we knew or could verify. Now, we have expanded the program to include ALL artists who are building officially recognized installations.
Will this program continue indefinitely?
We hope so! Were close to reaching the critical mass where the program will become self-sustaining except for a little bit of website maintenance. The BM community has embraced the program, and hopefully will provide whatever minimal continuing support is necessary, and our role will diminish to zero. At that point, we will become participants like everyone else. A few years after that, we hope that this program will have become such an ingrained part of the BM culture that no one will even remember that it all started with a deliberate, organized effort.
Does the program only take place during pre-week (the week before BM starts)?
Not anymore! We have always encouraged theme camps to invite artist groups for a meal any time during BM, even though we felt that the time the artists need it the most is during setup week when they are rushing to complete their projects. But starting in 2011, we plan to facilitate FtA dinners throughout burn week, by creating an on-playa version of our Online Reservations System, where theme camps and artists can register and be matched up.
How can I get involved as a volunteer?
There are three main areas where we actively recruit volunteers. The Communications Team is the FtA’s version of the greeters, placement, and the artery, all rolled into one. This group does a lot of administrative work in the months prior to arriving on the playa, including contacting all the programs participants and monitoring/updating our website and SN sites. Then they arrive on the playa early and staff the FtA reception booth where artists and theme camps are supposed to check in. For artists and theme camps who have already signed up for dinners, we check in with them to make sure nothing that will effect the success of their dinner has changed, and providing support in case there are extenuating circumstances. We also give out our special FtA medallion invitations there, as well. If you have time to offer in the months prior to playa arrival, you have graphics/marketing skills, and you’re outgoing and resourceful, this might be the team for you. The “Erection Crew” is FtA's version of the DPW. They arrive on playa early, set up our camp, break down the camp, and take care of all of FtA’s infrastructure needs. Included in this is the organization and running of our camp kitchen, which serves meals to our own crew, as well as other artist groups. If you have electrical, plumbing, kitchen, or decorating (chill spaces and art cars) experience, we’d love to have you on this team. The Fundraising Team develops and implements a broad fundraising strategy to make sure we have the funds available to achieve our goals and vision. All FtA volunteers are expected to participate in some way on the fundraising team. If you’re interested in working with us, contact Colonel Angus at colonelangus@feedtheartists.net and he’ll connect you with the right people.
Will FtA ever be expanded beyond the Burning Man
Community into the default world? Absolutely! Our Vision has always been to engage the BM community in helping us to create something that would have many applications in the broader default world. Now that the program has been fully embraced by the BM community, we plan to use the BM regional network to spread the program around the world and to many communities in the default world. The point of FtA is to facilitate the using of food as a form of appreciation and collaboration between groups, so whether this occurs in a disaster relief scenario (Feed the Workers) or a school (Feed the Children, Feed the Teachers) or a local community (Feed the Firemen), the concept remains the same. In a sense, we hope that one day, FtA will become a huge gift from the BM community to the World.
