Kiwiburn’s new Arts Facilitator is Diia Bourke. She tells us:
“I have been burning since 2014, after a friend, who happened to be a Kiwiburner, commented that they thought the lifestyle and ethos I was living was very much like that of Burning Man. Of course I had no idea what they were talking about! And now I’ve been to seven regional burns (Burning Seed, Kiwiburn, Ignition), and went to Black Rock City for the first time in 2018.
A native of Victoria, my very first Burn was Burning Seed in 2014, where I fell in love with the Art and costumes of the Burning Man community.
Being a girl who likes to get her hands dirty, I then volunteered to work on the Crucible Project with fellow Burners for Melbourne White Night, and was hooked on creating art. To steal my dear friend Tim’s quote, “Burning Man ruined my life,” ‘though in a good way!
Living back in Auckland in 2015 was an opportunity to be involved with Kiwiburn, and I loved the welcoming spirit of the community. My biggest love is the art, creating it or helping to foster it. Being part of The Giant Weta team with Auckland Burners, and helping to build Temple for Kiwiburn 2018 were absolute highlights for me as a Burner.
I wouldn’t have thought anything could top that until I got asked to be part of the Ignition Crew as Art Grants Facilitator, an experience which really got me interested in the ‘behind the scenes’ work that goes into a Burn event. And inspired me to volunteer for the Arts Facilitator role for Kiwiburn.
It is both an honour and a privilege to lead the Arts team, a position I don’t take lightly, and I look forward to being part of the ExCom and working with the Kiwiburn community helping to foster and grow art within our community and on the Paddock.”
Welcome Diia, and thank you for volunteering!
