Consent Team
Consent is at the heart of creating a community where people can feel safe, respected, and free to be themselves.
Blazing Swan is a place for radical self-expression, but that freedom comes with responsibility. Everyone has the right to decide what happens to their body, their space, and their experience.
The Consent Team helps participants understand and practise consent, and provides support when something doesn't feel right.
What Does the Consent Team Do?
The Consent Team helps create a culture where consent is understood, respected, and actively practised.
During the event, the team may:
Help participants understand consent and boundaries
Provide information and resources around consent
Support someone who has experienced a consent-related concern or incident
Help participants navigate situations where boundaries have been crossed
Work alongside other event teams when additional support is needed
Encourage conversations about respect, communication, and personal boundaries
The Consent Team isn't there to police people's behaviour.
Their role is to support the community, provide a safe point of contact, and help people work through situations with care and respect.
Consent Is Everyone's Responsibility
At the event, the Consent Team can provide support, but consent isn't the responsibility of one team.
Consent is one of our 11 principles. It was added to our (and Burning Man’s) 10 principles in February 2017.
At Blazing Swan, we all have a role to play in creating a culture of enthusiastic, informed and ongoing consent.
Consent means asking. Listening. Respecting the answer. And understanding that someone can change their mind at any time.
It applies to physical contact, sexual activity, photography, personal space, participation in activities, and much more.
No is enough. Maybe is not yes. Silence is not consent.
Need Support?
If something has happened that made you uncomfortable, unsafe, or unsure, you don't have to deal with it alone.
The Consent Team is there to listen without judgement, help you understand your options, and connect you with additional support where appropriate.
You can approach a Consent Team volunteer directly during the event or use the event's designated contact channels.
Is the Consent Team for You?
Consent work requires empathy, patience, good communication, and the ability to remain calm when people are distressed or situations are complicated.
You don't need to have all the answers, but you do need to be willing to listen, respect people's experiences, maintain appropriate boundaries, and work as part of a team.
If you care about creating a safer, more respectful community and want to help others navigate difficult situations, the Consent Team could be for you.
Join the Consent Team
Creating a culture of consent takes all of us.
If you'd like to help make Blazing Swan a place where people can express themselves freely while respecting the boundaries of others, we'd love to have you involved.