San Francisco, CA., May 17, 2016 -- Big Imagination Foundation - a nonprofit organization that fuels bold, visionary and inspiring projects for the betterment of humanity - has announced the launch of The 747 Project today. They are converting a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, the most iconic and recognizable plane ever built, into the biggest art car in the history of Burning Man. After having transported millions of humans across the globe on countless journeys, Big Imagination is planning to premiere the 747 Project at Burning Man 2016 to transport minds, bodies and spirits to new frontiers.
Big Imagination and its ambitious volunteer team of more than 100 makers, creators, artists and engineers have now embarked on a major Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to support The 747 Project and the creation of this life-changing interactive immersion.
“With the funding support of our already incredible community of hundreds of individuals, we’ve purchased the 747 jumbo jet and completed Phase 1 of the construction in the Mojave Desert,” says Ken Feldman, CEO of Big Imagination. “To all of those who have supported the project thus far, we humbly say thank you. Now we are ready to open up to support from the wider community who find The 747 Project inspiring. This is a massive undertaking, and we need massive support to make it a reality for this year's burn.”
The Boeing 747 has already been gutted, with the tail and most of the wings removed, bringing Phase 1 of the project to completion. The $200K+ spent on Phase 1 came from donations from hundreds of friends of the project. Phase 2 has begun - and will include the reconstruction, extension and reinforcement of the upper deck, as well as the refurbishing of the cockpit, installation of new staircases, and the prepping and removing of the upper half of plane for transportation to Gerlach, Nevada. During Phase 3, the team will unbolt the remaining wing stubs, detach the wing landing gear beam, remove the wing landing gear and prep the lower section of plane for transport to Nevada where both sections will be bolted together to create a massive rolling art experience.
The 747 Project will invite festival attendees aboard for an interactive and symbolic journey to transform their futures. In addition, there will be speakers, events and parties complementary to the theme of powerful dreams, purposeful destinations and big imaginations.
To help extend The 747 Project beyond Burning Man, Big Imagination is creating an online Virtual Reality experience that people can access in a variety ways, including using Google Cardboard. They’re also planning an interactive traveling roadshow for 2017. The plane will serve as a large venue, showcase, and demonstrator for music, art, live performances, experiences, and inspirational talks. This is a true opportunity to share both the Foundation’s message as well as the Burning Man ethos year round.
A passion project seven years in the making, the 747 Project is within reach of its 2016 goal to get the plane to Burning Man. But to realize this ambitious artistic vision, the foundation will need a wide range of support - from funding to skilled volunteer labor, technical assistance, and social sharing of the project far and wide. To contribute or follow its progress, please visit bit.ly/imaginebig747 or Volunteer Here.
Suggested Tweet: Big Imagination is bringing a 747 to #BurningMan, and they’re calling all Flight Crew: Come Fly with Us #ImagineBig747 bit.ly/imaginebig747
The Big Imagination Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that incubates brave new ideas and talent, supports transformative change makers, and reminds us that if we dream big—we can make the impossible possible. Big Imagination’s projects don’t fit into boxes. They span many disciplines and rely on collaboration and community support. They provide educational opportunities and strive to better humanity in some way. They are ambitious, experimental, and awesome. We inspire through action—bringing to life impossible projects of art, science, technologies and humanities.
Media and Donor Contact:
Toni Alejandria
(415) 294-0590
info@bigimagination.org