After 2 years of online pandemic pivots and a return to in-person service, Burlycon will dedicate 2023 to a complete internal under-the-hood restructuring through an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens, and the popular in-person convention will return in 2024.
- For the past 15 years Burlycon has been the global leader in peer-based Burlesque Education.
- The Board of Directors and Steering Committee have voted to dedicate the next 12 months to focus on infusing the strategy, operations, and services with anti-racist and anti-oppressive principles and actions.
- The outcome will be a sustainable organization that is prepared to lead for the decades to come.
Burlycon, the world’s leading peer-based Burlesque Educational organization, has announced that 2023 will be an organizational rebuild year, and will produce the next in-person Convention in 2024.
Founded in 2008, BurlyCon has dedicated the last 15 years to producing the world’s only annual burlesque educational convention providing opportunities for education, professional growth, and in-person social networking for the burlesque community. During the global Pandemic of 2020-2021, Burlycon pivoted to produce a fully online convention and continue supporting constituents around the world.
The weekend of November 11-13, 2022, BurlyCon hosted the first in-person convention since the start of the 2020 pandemic and shelter-in-place mandates. With over 350 attendees present at the host hotel in Seattle, Washington, BurlyCon has shown that yes, Burlesque is Back after the pandemic.
After deeply considering what the Burlesque community most needs from BurlyCon at this time, the Board and Steering Committee Directors believe the answer is: equitable and sustainable practices that are inseparable from, and rooted within anti-racist and anti-oppressive work. And after honestly evaluating their capacity and the work effort required, the Board and Steering Committee voted that, after the 2022 Convention, the entire team will focus on this effort for the next 12 months and begin planning for the 2024 convention at the end of 2023.
“It is a radical act to value ourselves and our community enough to pause from producing our annual convention, and take this time to rebuild, restructure, and renew with deep care and authenticity.” said Board President Miss AuroraBoobRealis
This revamp will weave anti-racism and anti-oppression principles through every aspect of the organization and programming. This includes reviewing the mission, values, and strategic plan, and updating the documentation, policies and procedures. Burlycon will also look to frameworks like reparative justice to cultivate a renewed culture of trust and transparency.
BurlyCon faces this challenging endeavor with the same spirit of learning and growth that it has brought to past achievements, such as producing the Legend’s Classes at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas for over 10 years, and launching a fully virtual convention in just 6 months.
Most recently, BurlyCon received a grant of $44,000 from the State of Washington, which will kickstart the effort through March 2023. The full year-long endeavor will require approximately $100,000 to complete, and Burlycon welcomes Donors, Sponsors, and Volunteers to support this work. Interested parties should contact us via https://burlycon.org/contact.
About Burlycon
Burlycon is a community-oriented, professional growth and educational organization for burlesque performers, fans, and aficionados. We conduct educational events to preserve, promote, and advance burlesque as a theatrical art form. We offer classes, workshops, panels, and other educational offerings that further professional skill and development. We are committed to supporting personal transformation through creative artistic expression in the burlesque arts.
BurlyCon is a women- and LGBTQIA- led organization. The BurlyCon Board of Directors are BIPOC-led. BurlyCon is a U.S. Federal not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) Organization operating in Washington State.
Contact information
Vixen Valentine, Director of Media
media@burlycon.org