Episode 23: PACT & Aurora 2025 (Karl, Kat, & Lara)
In this episode, PACT (People’s Art Collective of Tasmania) founding members Lara, Kat, and Karl share the origin story and success of Tasmania’s inaugural regional burn, Aurora 2025. Driven by a desire to establish a localised event rooted in Burning Man principles, the group successfully navigated the challenges of forming a democratic non-profit organisation focused on consent, safety, and decommodified community art. The inaugural November event, held on a stunning conservation property, drew around 250 attendees and featured unique Tasmanian elements, including a beautiful Thylacine (also commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger) effigy. Looking ahead to Aurora 2026, the collective remains dedicated to sustainable, grassroots growth, fostering skill-sharing with other Australian burns, and preserving the profound, co-created spirit of their emerging community.
Host: Stevan ‘Silent Disco’ Lay
Guest: Karl Malakoff, Kat Traill, Lara ‘Squeeky Queen’ Warren
Produced by PY Wong & Stevan Lay
Theme music by Will & Kate
2025 Aurora Burn | 5-10 November | Buckland, Tasmania, Australia
Photo: Kat Traill
USEFUL Links:
Aurora burn: https://auroraburn.org.au/
Blazing Swan: https://blazingswan.com.au/
Common Arts Victoria: https://commonarts.org.au/
Underland: https://underland.au/
Bonza Community: https://bonzacommunity.org/
Burning Seed: https://www.burningseed.com/
Modifyre: https://www.modifyre.org/
Afrikaburn: https://www.afrikaburn.org/
Burning Man: https://burningman.org/
Timestamps:
[00:00:31] PACT panel intro
[00:01:42] Squeeky Queen’s origin story
[00:02:54] Kat’s origin story
[00:04:08] Karl’s origin story
[00:06:08] Formation of PACT
[00:11:02] Naming of PACT
[00:11:56] Sparkadia 2024
[00:15:56] Aurora 2025
[00:21:47] Regional collaboration
[00:25:04] Burner voice messages
[00:26:48] Description of Aurora burn
[00:29:24] Aurora survival guide
[00:35:49] Aurora at aurora
[00:37:36] Effigy burn
[00:39:23] Temple burn
[00:42:19] Aurora highlights
[00:49:01] Sound issues
[00:51:02] Learning and improvements
[00:55:34] Burner voice messages
[00:57:32] PACT structure
[01:00:59] BM regional status
[01:02:55] Knowledge and skills sharing
[01:05:06] Tasmanian burner community
[01:10:37] Southern lights quiz
[01:16:52] Aurora 2026 event
[01:21:36] Shoutouts
[01:26:50] Burner voice messages
[01:27:46] Outro theme
The information presented in the following audio program is for informational, educational, entertainment, and archival purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on the Bonzaar Podcast are solely those of the hosts and the guests and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the entire burner community. Bonzaar Podcast is an independently-produced, volunteer-led, and community-funded project and is not associated or affiliated with the burning man organisation or it's world-wide subsidiaries.
This episode was recorded on 3 March, 2026
