Harnessing the Power of Crowdfunding for the Temple of Together

Sunday Spotlight: Championing Creativity #11

The Artist in Your Own Residence community at Founders and Mentors is a place to find hang out with other like-minded members in a relaxed, supportive and informal atmosphere, to find sustainable motivation to work on long-held artistic ambitions, to participate in peer-to-peer mentoring partnerships, to make tangible progress with creative projects, and to attend events, both online and IRL. It's a place of encouragement and celebrations: to meet people, network, learn, relax, and be nice to each other. If you would like to join the community for free, please click this link ??https://community.12ronnies.com/share/0chitX5arUVS32Gj

A 2024 Burning Man Campaign

Ever wondered how monumental art installations like Burning Man Project 's Temple of come to life in the vast, remote expanses of the Nevada desert?

Every year, as the dust settles from the previous Burning Man, a new Temple rises from the dreams and efforts of a dedicated community of artists and volunteers. The 2024 Burning Man Temple, titled Temple of Together and designed by Caroline Ghosn (a.k.a. Glitter Kitty), is the latest in a long line of spiritual and architectural masterpieces. It represents more than just art; it symbolises unity, shared energy, and the collective experience of a temporary city. For this project, the art community has turned to Crowdfundr , a crowdfunding platform that is enabling artists like Caroline to bring this monumental installation to life. Crowdfunding for the Temple of Together is not just about raising money—it's about co-creating and involving the community in building something extraordinary.

Link ?? Temple of Together: Burning Man, Crowdfundr : https://crowdfundr.com/temple2024

The Temple of Together campaign on Crowdfundr illustrates the power of crowdfunding to enable large-scale community art projects. Just as the design of the Temple is a blend of artistic and cultural influences, the crowdfunding process invites participants from all over the world to unite their efforts and support its construction. Crowdfundr has proven to be the ideal platform for this kind of ambitious project, providing artists like Caroline with the tools they need to engage their community and raise the necessary funds.

At the heart of the Temple’s design is the concept of unity. This is embodied through the central motif of two hands coming together in prayer, a gesture found in spiritual traditions across the globe. These hands will form a grand archway at the entrance, symbolising the togetherness that this installation seeks to inspire. Beyond this literal representation, the neo-Gothic architecture of the Temple, with its pointed arches and geometric symmetry, evokes a sense of communal energy converging and rising upward. It’s a symbol of hope and strength in an age of global challenges.

But for all of its profound symbolism, the Temple of Together cannot materialise without tangible support from the community. Crowdfunding campaigns like the one hosted on Crowdfundr allow participants to contribute financially, but they also offer something deeper—a shared sense of ownership over the creation. Every contribution, no matter how small, becomes part of the fabric of this enormous structure. Contributors are not just funding an art project; they are co-creators of a sacred space where people from all walks of life will come to reflect, mourn, celebrate, and connect during Burning Man.

The design of the Temple of Together honours previous Temples while pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainability. With a 94-foot diameter and a towering 70-foot height, it’s a monumental structure. Caroline Ghosn has drawn inspiration from the iconic Khaizaran weaving technique for the cladding, making sustainability a key focus of the project. In a time when environmental concerns are paramount, she aims to create a carbon-negative Temple—a vision that is not only about art but about responsibility to the Earth and future generations. The reeded weaving technique also symbolises inclusivity, as volunteers with varying levels of skill can contribute to the physical construction.

This inclusivity is mirrored in the crowdfunding process. Crowdfundr is an ideal platform because it allows the artist to connect with a global audience. Supporters from anywhere in the world can donate to the project, making it possible for people who may never step foot on the playa to still be part of the Temple's creation. Crowdfunding offers a decentralised, democratic method of financing—just as Burning Man’s culture thrives on the principles of inclusion, participation, and communal effort.

Caroline’s role as the lead artist is a deeply personal one. Having faced her own battles with trauma and illness, she sees the Temple as a reflection of her journey toward healing and self-reckoning. The Temple of Together represents the light that emerges when people confront their own darkness and come together in unity. Her previous Burning Man project, “Disturb My Slumber,” explored similar themes, inviting participants to reflect on the personal growth they experienced during the global pandemic. Her ability to weave personal experience with universal themes makes the Temple of Together a deeply meaningful project, not just for her, but for everyone who enters its sacred space.

Crowdfunding platforms like Crowdfundr provide artists with the ability to tell their story, connect emotionally with their audience, and invite participation. Caroline’s story of overcoming multi-generational trauma resonates with many, and her vision of the Temple as a space for collective healing and reflection is compelling. Through Crowdfundr, she can share this vision with the world and invite everyone to play a part in bringing it to life. This sense of collaboration is central to the spirit of Burning Man, where participants are creators, not mere spectators.

Crowdfunding also allows artists to reach potential donors who might otherwise be inaccessible. Traditional funding methods for large art installations often involve grant applications or private sponsorships, which can be time-consuming and limiting. Crowdfundr provides a faster, more flexible alternative. It also allows for a greater degree of creative freedom, as the artist is not beholden to a specific sponsor’s vision or demands. Instead, the community becomes the sponsor, enabling the project to stay true to its original inspiration.

Another advantage of Crowdfundr is the platform’s capacity to facilitate ongoing engagement. Contributors are not just financial backers—they are part of a community that receives updates, engages in dialogue with the artist, and participates in the creative process. In the case of the Temple of Together, this engagement extends beyond monetary contributions. Volunteers are invited to participate in the physical creation of the Temple, from constructing prayer pillows to weaving the reeded cladding. The collaborative nature of crowdfunding mirrors the collaborative nature of the Temple’s construction, creating a seamless integration between financial support and hands-on involvement.

Is crowdfunding the future of large-scale art installations like the Temple of Together?

The answer seems clear: yes. As demonstrated by Caroline Ghosn’s Temple of Together Crowdfundr campaign, crowdfunding offers a unique and powerful way for the Burning Man community—and beyond—to co-create. It enables artists to raise the necessary funds while fostering a sense of shared ownership and involvement. More than just a financing tool, Crowdfundr allows for deeper engagement with supporters, turning contributors into co-creators.

With platforms like Crowdfundr, the future of large-scale art installations looks more inclusive and accessible than ever. For artists like Caroline Ghosn, crowdfunding offers the opportunity to realise ambitious visions while staying true to the principles of collaboration, sustainability, and community that Burning Man holds dear. So, as we look forward to the 2024 Temple of Together, we can ask:

Is this the beginning of a new era for public art funding?

Calls to Action

1. The Artist in Your Own Residence community at Founders and Mentors is a place to find hang out with other like-minded members in a relaxed, supportive and informal atmosphere, to find sustainable motivation to work on long-held artistic ambitions, to participate in peer-to-peer mentoring partnerships, to make tangible progress with creative projects, and to attend events, both online and IRL. It's a place of encouragement and celebrations: to meet people, network, learn, relax, and be nice to each other. If you would like to join the community for free, please click this link ??https://community.12ronnies.com/share/0chitX5arUVS32Gj
2. The Artist in Your Own Residence community at Founders and Mentors runs an active community at WhatsApp. If you would like to apply to join the conversation and stay in the loop, please click this link ?? https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfg7lUtWbo23cHbLgIGkSz_O_HGE7PhoNRY4KN3lG60cjdOeA/viewform
3. Artist in Your Own Residence is a low-pressure, peer-to-peer mentoring scheme for anyone who thinks of themselves as being creative. If you would like to apply to join the scheme and take part in the program, please click this link ??https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc93v3ZXW9PJ7JLTgmWWNjghkW9N2wPSc0Dc9OZKfRJgRNg7A/viewform
4. Let me know in the comments if you have any suggestions for topics you would like me to cover that would help you in your own artistic journey and creative practice.

Become the artist in your own residence that changes the world!

Christopher Norris