The Nowhere Omnibus is simultaneously an interactive art experience and an actual service. It will combine physical installations around the Esplanade, in the form of idealised bus stops, with a traditional London Routemaster bus, which will circumnavigate the playa every day of Burning Man.


It is our opinion that the key radical and disruptive element of this project is that the Omnibus will run on a regular schedule, thus providing Black Rock City with its first genuine public transport infrastructure.

The project is focused on an actual London Transport RMT Routemaster bus in traditional livery, with an operating crew of 2 – a driver and a conductor – and a cast of thousands. Seven modified London Transport bus stops, with route maps and timetables, will be placed on The Esplanade at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 ‘o’clock and at The Man.

The Nowhere Omnnibus will run a scheduled bus service hourly around this route, for eight hours, every day, for the duration of the event. The service will be split across morning and evening service enabling passengers to enjoy journeys during the busier, cooler parts of the day.

We will be arrive precisely on time at each stop, never exceed the official bus capacity and stop for a cup of tea every hour.

But this incredible yet solidly functional platform will be heavily spiced with interactive and subversive theatre both en-route and at stops.

Incorporating costume, interaction and performance, the Nowhere Omnibus will transport its passengers into another world, one in contrast to the expected norms of Black Rock City.

The Nowhere Omnibus project has been kick-started thanks to an arts grant from Burning Man. However, the grant does not cover all of the costs inherent in making the idea a reality. This is a big dream that will only happen with some big kindness and generosity from the community.

Accordingly we are asking for donations from anyone and everyone who is excited about bringing the Nowhere Omnibus to Burning Man 2009. Currently we’re accepting donations via PayPal, which accepts pretty much all credit cards. Please direct your PayPal account towards our address: NowhereOmnibus at gmail dot com

Donations of all sizes are gratefully accepted, of course, so please put in as much or as little as you can afford. But donations of USD $50 and above will help the Nowhere Omnibus get to its destination more quickly! PayPal charges us fees to accept / withdraw donations, so please bear that in mind when calculating your donation amount.

In return you get kudos on the website (should you want it) and the warm feeling of having contributed to one of the most spectacular (and useful!) art projects on the playa. If you would like to be credited, please let us know when donating: there is an optional form allowing you to enter a message to us. Alternatively you can mail us with details of your donation and whether or not you’d like the amount of your donation to be listed alongside your credit.

The whole procedure will be transparent, as we will publish a report of our budget and where the money is spent; also, donations will be held in account, so if we do not manage to collect all the funds needed to launch the bus, you will be guaranteed to receive your donation back.

With heartfelt thanks from the Nowhere Omnibus team.