About Radical Horizons: The Art of Burning Man at Chatsworth
About Radical Horizons: The Art of Burning Man at Chatsworth
On 22 June 1986 - the summer solstice - about twenty people gathered on a San Francisco beach to burn an eight-foot-tall wooden effigy of a man. Those first few attendees decided to do this each year, with increasingly larger effigies and drawing ever bigger crowds.
Since then, the festival has moved to the Black Rock Desert in north-west Nevada, USA. Despite the burning heat and frequent dust storms, over one million people have attended what has become one of the most iconic, radical, and innovative festivals in the world — Burning Man.
This year, for the first time, Chatsworth House is bringing the creative spirit of Burning Man to the UK through a collection of the festival’s most inspiring works of art. This is a unique opportunity for art lovers to embrace the unique creativity that is a hallmark of Burning Man.
When is Radical Horizons: The Art of Burning Man at Chatsworth?
The exhibition will be running all summer from 9th April - 1st October 2022 and will be open from 9:00am - 6:00pm every day.
In connection with Radical Horizons, many tours and workshops have been planned for visitors of all ages to connect with the sculptures and create their own works of art.
The finale of the event will be on 1st October, where one of the sculptures will be set alight, mirroring the climactic events at Burning Man.
Please note: Photography is allowed, the event is free for all ages and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome too.
Where will Radical Horizons: The Art of Burning Man at Chatsworth be held?
The sculptures will be installed in the picturesque park that surrounds Chatsworth House; a grand stately home in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales which has been part of the local landscape for some 300 years. Despite being designed with the earthy hues of the Nevada desert in mind, we believe the works of art from Burning Man blend effortlessly into the gently rolling fields and grand oaks of Chatsworth’s grounds.
If you’re looking to fully experience the event the nearby Cavendish Hotel is the ideal location to base your exploration of Chatsworth House and the Dales. From fine dining to relaxing in one of the stylish, sumptuous bedrooms; the Cavendish has it all.
Also within a stone’s throw of Chatsworth are the Devonshire Arms at Pilsley and Beeley. These charming country inns are situated within the Chatsworth Estate, and they offer a distinctive experience of Derbyshire with great food, excellent ales, and comfortable rooms.
We are so pleased to be able to make Radical Horizons: The Art of Burning Man at Chatsworth free to access in our parkland. However, those travelling by car will want to book a car park ticket in advance.
Please note tickets to visit the house, garden, farmyard, or playground all include parking
How do I get to Radical Horizons: The Art of Burning Man at Chatsworth?
There is ample car parking on-site, and pre-booking a space is easy to arrange and strongly recommended. Visitors traveling to the estate via public transport can follow our recommended routes which can be found here.
If you are staying at the Cavendish Hotel, then it is just a short 12-minute walk to the exhibition. For visitors staying at the Devonshire Arms at either Pilsley or Beeley, it’s approximately about 40 minutes and 1 hour respectively by foot.
Dining options at the event include the farm shop café where you can enjoy light lunch time favourites. Alternatively, there is restaurant which highlights the best of Chatsworth Estate and local produce. Guests are also welcome to bring their own packed launches, however, we do ask that all litter be disposed of properly and not left on the grounds.
For visitors with babies and young children, there are baby change facilities near the house entrance, in the Carriage House Café, the farmyard, and the playground. We welcome both breastfeeding and bottle feeding anywhere on the estate.
Please note: the sculptures are set into grass parkland with no fixed route or path from one to the other. Whilst we have made every effort to ensure as much accessibility as possible for all our visitors, getting up close to the sculptures may not be possible for all attendees.
Which Burning Man statues and installations will be featured at the exhibit?
In total, 12 sculptures will be erected around the park. Eight of these have appeared at the Burning Man festival in previous years, including The Flybrary, the iconic piece by Christina Sporrong, and Charles Gadeken’s haunting installation, Murder Inc — both of which debuted at the 2019 Burning Man.
Four works will premiere at Chatsworth and will be unique to the event. Participation and self-expression are core values of the Burning Man Project, so three of the new sculptures will be created collaboratively throughout the event by visitors and the local community.
Tours take place daily at 11:00am and 2:00pm. These are perfect for those who want to learn more about the installations: the guides will be able to give you detailed insight into each sculpture and enhance your art viewing experience.
A map of the exhibition is available here.
Booking The Art of Burning Man at Chatsworth Tickets
The exhibition is free, and we have collaborated closely with our friends at the Burning Man Project to capture the essence of the festival and bring it to the UK, so come and experience the spirit of freedom, creativity, and possibility that these incredible works of art embody.
