Hello Element 11 Community,

We are thrilled to announce that Element 11 2025 will be held from June 25 through June 29! As we gear up for another amazing year of art, creativity, and community at Stargazer Ranch, I wanted to take this moment to address some important aspects of our event and organization’s future.

We chose these dates with you in mind, aiming to offer the most flexibility for everyone to attend. We understand that other events happen during this time of year, and we’ve done our best to schedule Element 11 in a way that allows you to participate in those as well. However, while we were able to accommodate this scheduling harmony this year, we may not always be able to do so in the future.

For the foreseeable future, please remember that we plan to hold Element 11 on a weekend after Father’s Day in June and before the 4th of July. We hope this consistency helps you plan ahead and make the most of your summer festivities.

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Balancing the Financial Health of Our Organization

As your Board of Directors, it is our responsibility to ensure that Element 11 remains healthy and sustainable so we can continue to provide this gathering for years to come. A key part of this is managing our financial balance, especially as the costs of hosting the event have risen substantially over the past two years.

At our current location, Stargazer Ranch, we are facing significant cost increases that are critical for everyone to understand. In 2025, we anticipate paying over $100,000 in county-required costs, in addition to the $20,000+ we pay for the rental of the land itself. These county-imposed costs include:

• Over $30,000 for road maintenance to ensure safe and reliable access to the event.
• Over $80,000 for medical, fire, and law enforcement coverage to meet county regulations and keep everyone safe.

Moreover, the remote location adds significant expenses for transporting essential services like porta-potties and generators, which further add to our financial burden.

To give further context on how this has increased over the years, here is a breakdown of our costs for 2023 and 2024. The county has informed us there will be an increase for 2025, and that estimate is listed here as well:

• 2023
  • Sheriff Dept – 18,000
  • Fire + Medical – 11,250
  • Road Maintenance – 26,803
• 2024
  • Sheriff Dept – 24,460
  • Fire + Medical – 37,413
  • Road Maintenance – 31,096
• 2025 (projected)
  • Sheriff Dept – 32,000
  • Fire + Medical – 48,000
  • Road Maintenance – 35,000

It is important to note, these are legitimate prices. This is not a case of price gouging by the county, but rather actual costs incurred by them which they would pass on to any organization which used these services.

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Seeking Long-Term Sustainability

While we are committed to holding Element 11 at Stargazer Ranch in 2025—and we will do everything we can to avoid raising ticket prices—we need to be honest with ourselves: continuing at Stargazer under these financial conditions is not sustainable in the long term without increasing ticket prices, something we wish to avoid if possible.

Our goal has always been to keep ticket prices reasonable and accessible for our community. But the reality is that we can’t continue absorbing these rising costs indefinitely. That’s why we’re turning to you, our vibrant community, to help us explore alternative venue possibilities for the future.

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What We Need to Consider for a New Venue

Here’s what we’re looking for in a new venue:

• Space Requirements: We currently use about 85 acres but believe we could reduce this footprint with better planning. Keep in mind that as our community grows, the space we need may also increase.
• Permits and Regulations: The site must accommodate the acquisition of local burn permits and mass gathering permits.
• Accessibility and Logistics: Proximity to essential services and easier transportation logistics for equipment and facilities.

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We Need Your Help for the Good of Our Community

Element 11 is more than just a gathering—it’s a reflection of our collective creativity, resilience, and shared values. To ensure we can keep E11 going for years to come, we need your help. Whether you have ideas for potential new venues, ways to reduce costs at our current location, or innovative solutions we haven’t thought of yet, your input is invaluable to the future of this event.

Your insights and connections are crucial. If you know of any locations that might suit our needs or have suggestions on how we can mitigate costs,  or just in general how this might affect you, please fill out this feedback form.

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Together, We Can Keep Element 11 Thriving

Thank you for being an integral part of this incredible community. We believe that with your support and creativity, we can overcome these challenges and continue to foster the spirit that makes Element 11 so special. Let’s work together to ensure that Element 11 continues to inspire and unite us all.

In gratitude and in service,

The Element 11 Board of Directors