Story: Arts festivals

Burning the man, Kiwiburn, 2014

Burning the man, Kiwiburn, 2014

Kiwiburn was the New Zealand branch of the American Burning Man festival, which is held in Nevada. Participants were encouraged to create an artwork which was then burnt at the end of the festival. The ultimate event at the festival was the burning of the 'man', in this case a wooden sculpture. Kiwiburn was held on a farm near Hunterville with no organised programme – participants registered their skills and abilities and ran workshops and lectures. In 2014 these included dancing, fire eating, drum circles and hula-hoop lessons. There was also a focus on sustainability and alternative lifestyles. 

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Kiwiburn
Photograph by Shelley Watson

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How to cite this page:

Marguerite Hill, 'Arts festivals - Music festivals from the 1960s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/45237/burning-the-man-kiwiburn-2014 (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Marguerite Hill, published 22 Oct 2014, updated 1 Aug 2016