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Volunteers

So you think you might want to volunteer with FtA, huh?

Well, before you make your decision, here are a few things to consider...

  1. FtA requires A LOT of planning, so we’re a pretty organized group, and all of our volunteers work on FtA throughout the year in preparation for Burning Man. Early in the year, we split up into teams and sub-teams, and each of these groups develops it's own schedule of conference calls, online meetings, etc. in order to respond to their particular set of responsibilities. We only receive a limited number of early arrival passes, which we reserve for those who have been most active in our pre-playa planning, so if you’re just looking for an on- playa, ”walk-up” volunteer opportunity, FtA is probably not for you.
  2. Also, most of our activities take place during setup week. That’s the week BEFORE Burning Man. So you have to be able to get to BM the week before the event (and be prepared to spend up to two weeks on the playa) if you volunteer with us. If you can, and you’re an active part of our team, we’ll provide you with an early arrival pass (and an incredible experience)!
  3. We play hard, but we work really, really hard! If you want to work for a couple of hours, sometimes show up, sometimes not, help when its convenient for you but leave it to others when you’ve decided to go jump on that magic carpet art car that happens to be passing by, this is NOT the volunteer opportunity for you.

Did we dissuade you? No? Then read on......

We have three primary areas of volunteer responsibilities:

Communications Team

The Communications Team, is the FtA’s version of the greeters, placement, media mecca, and the artery, all rolled into one. This group is responsible for all communication between FtA and it's volunteers, artists, theme camps, regional events, and the media. It does a lot of administrative work in the months leading up to BM, including managing our social networking sites, coordinating communication amongst and between our teams, and contacting all our potential participants (artists and theme camps) by email and phone. They arrive on the playa early and perform the critical function of setting up our reception booth so that artists and theme camps who used our Online Reservations System to set up dinners can check in with us prior to their dinner and receive their FtA medallions. They also check in with them to make sure nothing that will effect the success of their dinner has changed, and provide support in case there are extenuating circumstances. We also use the reception booth during burn week to connect artist groups and theme camps during that time. If you’ve got a good amount of time to give between April and August, and you’re outgoing, resourceful, and/or have graphics/marketing/web design experience, this might be the team for you.

The Erection Crew

The FtA Erection Crew is FtA’s version of the DPW. It is the group that works hard to make sure that we have a camp, and that all the systems and infrastructure necessary to support our camp are in place and working when they need to be. They are generally the first to arrive on the playa, and the last to leave, and are involved in a lot of hard work and mischief in between. Included in this team’s responsibilities, is the setup of our kitchen. The Kitchen team provides all the food for our camp and the FtA dinners that our camp will produce. Starting in 2011, these will be much smaller, more intimate dinners than we have done in the past. This is a collaborative team that works all year to plan, procure, and produce the high-quality food that is excellently and creatively prepared on time, with love and well being as the key ingredients, for us and our guests. So if you want some new perspective on the BM experience, and you like to blow things up (just kidding....sort of), then come join our Erection Crew.

The Fundraising Team

The FtA fundraising team develops and implements a broad fundraising strategy to make sure we have the funds available to achieve our goals and vision. This includes Kickstarter campaigns, personal appeals, and a lot of communication with various groups. All FtA volunteers are expected to participate in some way on the fundraising team.

So are you still interested? Yes? Then here’s a little more information:

After working hard together for several days on the playa, we tend to become a pretty close-knit group. We like to hang out together and explore the playa together when we’re finished with our work, and we love to play practical jokes on each other. Starting in 2011, we are only accepting volunteers who camp with us. FtA is not all about the artists. We care a lot about our volunteers’ experience, and hope it will be one of your more fun and meaningful times on the playa. And, at the very least, during your time with us, we know you’ll eat well!!!

The FtA Volunteerism Credo

One of the fundamental tenets of FtA is the importance of taking care of our volunteers-in addition to the artists we serve-and thus fostering a cohesive bond with the entire FtA ensemble. We are therefore committed to the following:

  • Encouraging (starting in 2011, requiring) all of our volunteers to camp with us
  • Planning some additional events just for our volunteers, including our Annual Planning Weekend in early April.
  • Communicating with and engaging our volunteers well before we arrive on the playa to spark creative input, drive inclusiveness, delegate responsibilities, and most importantly, build community.

Want more info? Contact us!