The Great Lakes Experimental Arts, Inc. Board of Directors has been working intentionally to ensure the long-term sustainability of Lakes of Fire. Since its inception in 2009, the event has grown from 546 participants to more than 2,400 in 2025, alongside increased art grants, infrastructure needs, and community impact. With that growth comes a responsibility to plan carefully for the future.

Recently, speculation circulated about a potential new location. We want to clarify what is, and is not, true.

It is true that the Board is actively exploring the possibility of securing a permanent home for Lakes of Fire. At this time, we are in a due diligence phase, which means no property has been purchased and no final decisions have been made. Until that process is complete, any specific details, including locations, remain tentative and subject to change.

This phase of work necessarily happens before public announcements. Like most organizations, we cannot seek broad community input on every decision while negotiations and legal reviews are still underway. That isn’t secrecy; it’s responsible stewardship. It’s how we protect the event, the organization, and the community from unnecessary risk.

What we can say with certainty is this: Lakes of Fire is moving forward. The event is not canceled, and the Board, Leads, and Event Coordinators are working diligently to secure a stable future for the Burn.

Over these last 17 years, the Lakes of Fire community has done incredible work to collaborate and create the world we want to live in. To highlight the growth of Lakes of Fire and our community impact, we’ve gathered information from the after burn reports on our website.

Lakes of Fire growth by the numbers:

• Tickets sold
  • 2009 (first year of the burn) – 546
  • 2025 – 2,504
• Number of volunteers
  • 2009 – 100
  • 2025 – 1,492
• Art grants awarded
  • 2012 (first year of art grants) – 8
  • 2025 – 46
• Art grants distributed
  • 2012 – $4,665
  • 2025 – $63,000
• Community donations
  • 2010 (first year of donations) – $363
  • 2025 – $7,000

We understand that uncertainty can be uncomfortable, and we care deeply about our community’s trust. When there is concrete, finalized information to share, we will do so openly and with excitement, because this is joyful news, and we look forward to celebrating continued growth together when the time is right.