YOUtopia Leads

YOUtopia is completely volunteer-led and volunteer-run. Joining the Leads Team is a great way to give back to the San Diego Burning Man community.

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Lead Applications are Open for 2026

Everyone is an artist and has a story to tell – the AC team determines the grants needed for YOUtopian artists to bring their vision to life. The gifts of art can be interactive, static, sound, performance, something beautiful or questionable – the job isn’t to judge; it’s simply to help artists fund their vision to share with all of the participants at the event. They work closely with City Planning and SDCAP.

Design and decorate center camp, schedule and communicate with center camp artists and produce center camp activities.

Is the public face of YOUtopia. It is through them that we engage and inform the public of all facets of the event. Social media and newsletters are used to announce developing information to the public while the website acts as a central resource. Additionally, all public facing posts from other YOUtopia departments must be approved by the Communications Department to ensure a consistent theme, tone, language for the event and is checked for consistency across mediums.

Provides administrative, contract administration and risk management (insurance) support for the Production Leadership Team of YOUtopia. Coordinates, trains and supervises Department Leads to perform certain specific tasks in order to maintain and manage the flow of information and data.

Responsible for YOUtopia’s infrastructure.  This includes designing and implementing the power grid, running heavy equipment, deploying light towers, setting up and taking down shade, fueling, trash hauling, and similar tasks. When possible, they also assist other departments and theme camps with build and strike.

Before the event each department lists all of the physical assets that they need – everything from shade structures to radios to office supplies. Dispensary is responsible for approving, sourcing, transporting, dispensing, collecting, maintaining and storing all of it.

FAST ensures the safety of all fire artists participating in consideration of the surrounding land. Prior to the event, FAST is responsible for registering all performers, keeping them up to date on safety codes, and acting as their point of contact. They will also work with City Planning on performance areas.  On-site, they will need to inspect and approve all equipment and work with volunteers to ensure there is a sober, attentive adult at every performance.

Processes the arrival of participants to the event. Works closely with Greeters and Traffic control.

Sets a positive mood upon arrival for all participants and are often the first point of contact at the gate entry. They will also help provide a map/directions so everyone can get where they are going quickly and efficiently.

 Ice is the only thing sold inside the event.  On-site Sales manages this, including interfacing with outside vendors, record keeping, cash handling, and delivering the frosty needs of many

Oversees a diverse set of techniques to make sure we leave the site cleaner than we found it. This includes promoting public awareness, managing public recycling, major cleaning pre-event, moop sweeping post event, and assisting with the moop map.

Captures all those magic YOUtopian moments so we can relive them again and again. Videographers and photographers ethically operate to capture participants in their special moments – Media keeps it classy.

Placement volunteers get a new perspective on the event and an opportunity to build connections to many key members of our community!  They help artists and theme camp leads find their placement as they arrive, as well as connecting them to other resources as needed

Responsible for making sure the onsite staff and volunteers are ok and taking care of themselves. This is done by utilizing a group of volunteers to bring them drinks and snacks throughout the day and nights of the event.

Roam the city providing assistance to YOUtopians in need, be it conflict resolution and peer mediation, helping participants locate medical support, lending an ear or a helping hand, or giving directions to the nearest portos. You will walk the grounds in pairs equipped with radios, ready to offer help when needed. PLEASE NOTE: You must have completed Black Rock City or Pacific Southwest Ranger training in order to volunteer on the YOUtopia Rangers team. Contact the Ranger team for further details at rangers@sdyoutopia.com.

Traffic control in and out of the event. Keep emergency lanes open at all times. Arrange vehicles in the parking lot, keeping lanes open so all vehicles are accessible. Works within the Ingress Team

The Schwag department is in charge of all needed graphics design for the event and to help facilitate the creation of

Signage designs, produces, and installs the wayfinding and identity across the city: street names, department banners, info panels, and directional signage at gates, Center Camp, and the Volunteer Booth. They also assist theme camps in helping them improve legibility for their offerings.

Serves as an information conduit for registered theme camps, working with the community and the Placement Department to ensure that everyone remains up to date on the details regarding event and camp guidelines, timelines and assisting with opportunities for possible camp recruiting and fundraising events.

Manages the pre-event ticket purchasing system and on-site ticketing system management.

Transportation helps ensure a safe and orderly entry and exit of the event.  Qualify all ART Cars to ensure they can operate safely and effectively on the venue grounds. Provide support to all departments as needed for transporting participants/supplies as needed. In addition, this department provides ADA transportation as needed. This year we have the specific goal of attracting more art cars to YOUtopia.

Responsible for recruiting, managing, and distributing the volunteers needed to help make YOUtopia a success. Without our volunteers, we would be lost and unable to truly function. This is a time intensive position that will require many hours both pre and during the event.