Critical NW
July 15th–21st, 2024
Granite Falls, WA
July 15th–21st, 2024
Granite Falls, WA
This year we focus on the interconnection and balance of all things.
—
As atoms cast from dying stars arise eons later in new life, we model the dynamic energies of cosmic equilibrium. Night and day, sky and earth, flower and decay.
—
“As Above, So Below” is a reflection on who we were and what we become, our connection to all cycles, and the illusion of contrast.
—
We look forward to seeing what interpretations of the theme you bring this year.
Apply for Theme Camp Placement & Frontage Grants
Attention Theme Camps! Ready to show us what you got? We are so excited to see the amazing things our community has planned this year! Theme Camp and Frontage Grants are officially open!
We encourage tiny theme camps too! How big does a theme camp have to be? One person with an idea & a plan! Creating a small theme camp with interesting interactivity can also be a good way to get a vehicle spot!
Every Theme Camp needs to apply for placement. If you wish to be part of a village or to be placed adjacent to another camp, you can indicate that on the application. Should it be helpful, you can find a PDF of the application questions HERE. You will additionally be required to provide a camp layout and footprint plan, and can find guidelines for that HERE.
Once you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email that contains a link to edit your submission, in the event that you need to make any changes. Applications close Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 11:59pm.
Apply for Art Placement, Art Grants, & Workshops
Applications are also now open for art placement and art/workshop grants! Y’all blow us away every year with your creativity and knowledge. We can’t wait to see what you’ll bring to Critical NW this year, so get your applications in today!
You can find a handy PDF of the application form questions HERE. Remember to keep your confirmation email, as it contains a link to edit your submission in the event that you need to make any changes. Applications close Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 11:59pm.
Contact spacement@criticalnw.org with placement questions or grants@criticalnw.org with questions about grants.
Photos courtesy of @espressobuzz
Critical Northwest is an official Burning Man regional event sponsored by Ignition Northwest.
For over a decade and a half Critical Northwest has been dedicated to championing the spirit and principles of Burning Man in the Pacific Northwest. Every July we gather together to embrace the spirit and vision of the playa as we build something new right here in the woods and mountains of home.
Burning Man link
Ignition NW link
Are you new to our Critical Northwest Community? Welcome! Please note these essential pieces of information for first timers:
Interested in ways that you can get involved in Critical Northwest right now? Looking for ways to make a meaningful impact in our community? Watch this space and our socials for updates on volunteer opportunities, work weekends, and more!
CNW 2024 also still needs more great folx to join the Production Team as Leads. For more info and to apply, click here!
Ticket info coming soon!
Sound plays an important role in how we interact and communicate with each other. A part of this is understanding amplified sound and how it impacts those surrounded in a shared auditory space. The purpose of the CNW Sound Policy is to have a respectful environment for each other and our hosts, the Masons. It is our shared responsibility to create an event which sustains positive experiences for all participants.
—
Sound Policy Breakdown:
GATE HOURS
Mon-Fri: 10 AM to 10 PM
Sat: 10 AM to 1 PM
—
ARRIVAL
Your vehicle will be marked with your arrival time, after which you have one hour to unload before parking. Pull over completely while you unpack so others can continue to use the roads.
Unload and park before setting up your camp. Space to unload is limited, especially in walk-in camping, and others will be waiting to get in after you.
There is a strict 5 MPH speed limit for all roads. This includes the long road to our
—
Ambassadors!
Additionally, ONLY mutant vehicles and official use vehicles can drive on Electric Avenue, Pussycat Path, or Firefly lane or after 8 PM anywhere on site.
If you arrived late and didn’t get to parking before they closed, please pull off the road completely for the night and get your car in the lot when they open at 10 AM.
—
RE-ENTRY (IN/OUT)
Re-entry is only available to those who arranged an in-out pass in advance of the event. Note that an In/Out pass is tied to ONE PERSON and ONE VEHICLE. Anyone over 18 leaving or re-entering the event must show their ID.
HAVE A SPILL? CONTACT LNT, WE WILL COME TO ASSIST
—
Keep it simple sasquatch:
—
Lock up your mess monster:
—
Leave nature thriving:
—
Faun over the flora and fauna:
—
Be a Magical Unicorn:
Sign up for a volunteer shift with LNT!
Every child under the age of 18 must have a sober, trusted adult available and able to be located at all times.
Production and Rangers have collected the following info for all children brought into the event:
Should any of your info change mid-event, please reach out to Rangers for assistance updating.
We recognize that our presence impacts the land. We acknowledge that all actions leave traces, and we can decide what traces we do leave. Stewardship is more than just not harming our environment, it’s actively working to support its resilience and its ability to support us and others.
Environmental stewardship is the use and protection of natural environments in responsible ways. This includes conservation and sustainable practices. The ultimate goal is to enhance ecosystem resilience, while simultaneously enhancing human well-being.
Resilience is the ability of an ecosystem to respond to a disturbance or change and recover, ideally back to its original state or function. Human activities have a profound effect on ecosystems. How can we be in line with these principles as we play at Critical NW?
The Stewardship team works closely with the caretakers of the Masons Family Campground to adjust the natural environment to fit the human needs AND work with the environment. We are working on invasive plant removal and tree planting to replace the diseased Hemlocks with Western Red Cedar in hopes to sustain the tree canopy. In partnership with the Masons caretakers and community we strive to protect and enhance the environmental assets.
Fire performers must check in with our fire performance leads at Fire Camp and attend a safety class before lighting up on site. Remember, ignited performances are only permitted in the performance area, at the effigy during open spins, or when a fire team safety is present.
Performers are required to carry insurance. More info to come.
Production and DPW begin the work of building Critical well before everyone arrives, and their work doesn’t end when everyone leaves. Exodus times are strictly enforced to ensure that our crew has adequate time for teardown.
—
Here are some tips to make your exodus a snap:
Let’s be awesome together.
Conduct is expected to be of the highest standards and must at all times be appropriate for a family setting. The following are strictly prohibited and may result in expulsion from the grounds and/or revocation of ticket:
Ignition Northwest/Critical Northwest, at their sole discretion, reserve the right to revoke the ticket of and/or require any person to vacate the premises for reasons of nuisance, improper conduct or other rule violations, without refund of ticket fees.
For more details on our code of conduct, click the button below:
As a production lead you will work with co-leads, supported by producers and directors, to plan and implement the function of your department.
—
Starting in February you will: attend weekly staff meetings; attend the leads retreat in April; manage timelines and budgets; communicate effectively with your director, co-leads, and other production departments; recruit and manage volunteers as applicable; and other duties specific to your department.
—
During the event in July, production leads actively manage their department’s function and volunteers, working in shifts agreed upon by co-leads and director, and troubleshooting as needed.
Production is a fun, rewarding experience with lots of perks including:
—
Production staff are expected to:
The Ambassador leads work alongside & train the amazing volunteers who get to en-culturate participants as they enter the event. Their primary responsibilities are to greet, ensure participants have read the Survival Guide, and hand out event swag (field guides, special event pendants, wristbands, etc.). The Ambassador team answers general questions about the event, the 10+ Principles, and more! Leads also provide entry expectations and assist with the management of traffic into the event. This role has a significant amount of interaction with the Gate, Parking and Spacement teams.
The Artist Support & Grants leads assist with coordinating & communicating with those who have submitted Art that has been placed, help ensure artists have requested the right amount of space, power, and/or any heavy equipment needed for them to succeed, and make sure all the granted art gets documented & photographed so we can show the community what beautiful / interesting / exciting things you helped fund. These leads ensure granted artists have submitted the necessary information to obtain placement for granted art, have a space coordinated for their granted (and non-granted) workshops to be held, and that they are aware of the deadlines and expectations associated with their Grants. This role collaborates heavily with the INW Art Grants Committee, Spacement, and DPW teams.
Additional Role Requirements:
Artistic Vision leads set the stage for the current year’s theme at the event site. This team plans, orders, and manages installation/deinstallation of the lighting, street names, burma shave (those rad little entry signs!), and street signage throughout the event. This role interfaces heavily with the Spacement, Grants / Artist Support, and DPW teams.
This team assists with the verification of INW Firestarter memberships for both the Facebook group and ticket purchases and transfers, coordinates with producers on the sale dates, assists Design team as needed with updates requested for the ticketing platform, provides Gate with pertinent information daily for participant entry into the city, and assists with the transfers of certain types of tickets/passes. This role collaborates heavily with producers, Gate, and Communication.
New for 2024, Census is responsible for surveying Critical NW participants with the help of volunteers and establishing a dataset to better understand our community. The ideal candidate will have skills including: statistical data analysis, cultural sensitivity, survey methods, and research study design.
The Communications team engages participants before, during, and after the event with informative messaging incorporating the year’s theme, the 10+ Principles, and other pertinent information.
Communications regularly updates and interacts with the Critical NW website, newsletter, and social media. This role works closely with event producers and the community.
Additional Role Requirements:
The Design team collaborates with producers to create a cohesive visual story for Critical Northwest based on that year’s theme. Design leads create overall visual design and digital art assets for criticalnw.org, a library of digital assets to be used for signage and other printed materials by other department leads, the event map, design of the official event badges and wristbands. Design leads also assist production departments with design of department swag including stickers, t-shirts, or patches.
DPW has an external process for lead nomination. To learn more about how you can become a member of DPW please email dpw@criticalnw.org
The Exodus/LNT leads are responsible for leading the cleanup teams for post-event restoration of the Critical NW site, creating a plan for participant exodus including access to/from the site at the gate, and educating the community on Leave No Trace principles. The leads in this role will work with the theme camps, departments, and the production team on their LNT plans and coordinate the production HQ cleaning and trash schedules. This role collaborates with every department, though particularly with Stewardship, Communications and DPW.
Fire Safety is responsible for helping ensure the safety of participants at our event. The leads in this role will update and prepare the safety paperwork for the event permit, work with Artist Support and artists on regulatory safety requirements, perform onsite safety inspections of art installations, flame effects, theme camps, and common areas, and meet with the Fire Marshal and producer during the event. FAST leads will be ready to assume incident command of planned burns and emergency incident responses.
Additional Responsibilities:
Gate leads manage participant entry to the event in a safe, efficient, and orderly fashion. They perform ticket verifications, validate all entrants are INW Firestarters, administer & verify paperwork for each participant, provide appropriate tickets/passes/credentials to participants, and assist with troubleshooting / escalations as needed. Gate leads also serve as liaisons with the event’s contracted security staff. This role has a significant amount of interaction with producers, Ambassadors, Box Office, and the INW Board.
New in 2024, the Carts department operates a golf cart shuttle service for participants who could use a little extra help getting to and from Parking. Carts also manages the event’s golf cart fleet, tagging and decorating carts and performing daily maintenance. Before the event, Carts facilitates accessibility issues including service animal registration, ADA porto placement, etc.
Role Requirements:
Hub leads facilitate the community gathering space at Critical where ice is sold, hot beverages can be obtained, workshops are held, volunteer opportunities are posted, and general relaxation can be had. This team is responsible for managing cash ice sales & inventory, verifying IDs for people who’ve purchased ice pre-event, decorating the space in a way that is on-theme and helping to source coffee / tea donations for the event. This team has a significant amount of interaction with the Artist Support / Grants & Artistic Vision teams.
Life Support provides food and beverages to working volunteers. This team curates a grab & go pantry for production staff, plans nutritionally balanced meals for on-shift leads (factoring in known allergies/common dietary restrictions), and brings sundries like snacks, beverages, sunblock, etc. to volunteers around the site Life Support operates whenever volunteers are working: during work parties, the leads retreat, pre-event, and especially during the event.
Additional Role Requirements:
Medical leads advise and collaborate with producers and other safety teams (Rangers, FAST) teams to develop health/safety planning and offer community education. They act as liaisons to the event’s contracted medical vendor, providing cultural context, monitoring health and safety trends, and communication and support as needed. Medical leads also provide First Aid care to participants and staff at all times when the medical vendor is not engaged, including pre- and post-event, work weekends, and the leads retreat.
Role Requirements:
Parking leads assist with the setup, design, and implementation of onsite parking at the event to maximize the number of vehicles parked while complying with regulations and host requirements. This team manages the event parking lots during gate hours, maintains an accurate count of vehicles that have arrived on site, manages parking passes, and assists with dynamic parking challenges. This role interfaces heavily with the DPW, Gate, Spacement and Power Wheels teams.
Additional Role Requirement:
– Active in the Rideshare/Carpool/Offsite Parking page on Facebook to help answer questions
Power Wheels manages event electrical infrastructure and mutant vehicles. This team maps out power drops and sources, facilitates electrical needs for camps and art installations, obtains necessary equipment, lays out cable and power drops pre-event, removes & stores cable during strike, and responds to emergent power issues during the event. Power Wheels is also responsible for mutant vehicle registration, compliance, and safety. This role collaborates most with the DPW, Spacement, and Art Support teams.
Role requirements:
Rangers are organized through the Puget Sound Ranger Council and leads are nominated from within that organization. To learn more about how you can first become a member of Rangers, email rangers@criticalnw.org.
Spacement leads manage theme camp and art placement applications, coordinate with participants on their submissions, and organize placement within the event site. They assist the Design team in creating event maps for participants and staff. Spacement organizes pre-event site visits for theme camp & art project leads and coordinates early arrival requests. During the event, Spacement guides camps and artists to their designated site location and communicates boundaries. This team works with all departments, but especially with Artist Support & Grants and Power Wheels.
Additional Role Requirement:
– At least one lead in attendance at each work weekend (dates TBD)
Stewardship leads work with the caretakers of the Masonic Family Campground, the Critical Northwest event site, to help create a plan for site restoration, updates, and invasive plant removal during work weekends. They coordinate with DPW the tasks to be completed at the INW work weekends as well as educate the community regarding plant life & sustainability of the site and other ways to create connection between our community and the land. This role collaborates with the Masonic Caretakers for the site, producers, and the LNT/ Exodus team.
Additional Role Requirement:
The Technology team is tasked with managing radios and software tools to keep production staff and volunteers communicating before and during the event. Technology leads provide support to the production team for software tools including Google Workspace, Slack, and Notion. They maintain INW’s fleet of radios and accessories, set up and maintain radio equipment including antenna and repeater, program and support event and production staff radios, diagnose and troubleshoot radio system issues, train production staff on radio usage and etiquette, and manage onsite radio charging and checkins/checkouts. They also research and implement onsite Internet access for use by Gate and production staff.
Additional Role Requirements:
Volunteer Coordinators work closely with all Production leads to help build department schedules, set up volunteer intake forms, help teams with urgent staffing needs both pre-event and onsite, assist leads with volunteer recruitment efforts, and track volunteerism statistics to ensure credit for volunteer hours and data tracking over time. VCs will also actively develop and implement plans to increase volunteerism at the event.