Campfire Convention is a community platform and social network founded in 2016. It centres on fostering meaningful conversations, collaboration, and grassroots social change. Its ethos revolves around creating a space for people to connect authentically, exchange ideas, and collaborate on projects that benefit the wider community and society. The focus is on co-creation, empowerment, and a departure from the competitive, data-driven nature of mainstream social media.
After our first event in August 2016, Brian Eno accepted an invitation to become Campfire's first patron. He said "This is the start of something big. It will involve engagement: not just tweets and likes and swipes, but thoughtful and creative social and political action too. It will involve realising that some things we’ve taken for granted - some semblance of truth in reporting, for example - can no longer be expected for free. If we want good reporting and good analysis, we’ll have to pay for it. That means MONEY: direct financial support for the publications and websites struggling to tell the non-corporate, non-establishment side of the story."
Ethos
• Community and Connection: Campfire emphasizes authentic interactions and collective creativity, striving to foster trust and a sense of belonging.
• Collaboration Over Competition: Members are encouraged to share knowledge, co-create, and support one another rather than compete.
• Social Change: The platform values grassroots action and initiatives aimed at addressing societal and environmental challenges.
• Inclusivity and Independence: Campfire aims to be a welcoming, independent space free from corporate influence, advertising, and exploitation of user data.
Aims
1. Empowering Individuals and Groups: By providing tools and platforms for people to share their stories, skills, and projects.
2. Facilitating Dialogue and Debate: Campfire hosts discussions on social, political, environmental, and cultural topics.
3. Catalyzing Action: Members collaborate to turn ideas into actions, focusing on tangible outcomes and grassroots projects.
4. Sustainability: Promoting eco-friendly practices and fostering awareness of environmental issues.
Origins
Campfire Convention was inspired by the age-old tradition of gathering around a campfire—a symbol of community, storytelling, and collective wisdom. It emerged as a response to the shortcomings of existing social media platforms, which often prioritize profit and engagement metrics over genuine connection. As a music producer and community builder, I had already witnessed the transformative potential in transformational community budding via The Big Chill (my previous project). It felt almost second nature to extend my passion for innovative social spaces and collaborative environments into creating Campfire Convention.
Key events like Campout and Campfire Conversations and other live gatherings have reinforced its mission, blending online and offline interactions to build a strong, action-oriented community.
Here is a short history of Campfire's Campout events since 2016.
Now we seek to help foster thriving communities, build vibrant non-establishment online forums and exciting events. Think of Campfire as a fertile garden or orchard for ideas which can grow into inspiration, blossom into debate – and lead to action, co-creativity and a new narrative.
Campfire’s trailblazing philosophy looks towards a radical, community-based, co-operative model where all members can connect, feel empowered, reimagine the world and build something of value together.
Now is the time to truly explore our potential to change the face of community-based social networking.
Campfire Convention is a growing, unity-conscious community of enthusiastic, open hearted people, who believe that we can work together to shape a more loving, expansive world motivated by truth, compassion, freedom, service, peace and goodwill.
We’re creating a vibrant online social network alongside real life, in-person gatherings to bring members together, building connections, enabling our members to share their gifts, ideas and initiatives, and to facilitate a platform that is well equipped to promote a transformational environment and a new way of being in synergistic partnership with our living, breathing planet.
We are creating a truly unique and innovative co-operative that is totally independent of political affiliations and commercial imperatives.
Campfire Convention’s path will be co-created as we seed a new consciousness; planting seeds through word-of-mouth, signs and synchronicities. We will honour our relationship to the living wisdom and cycles of nature, catalysing the ignition of hopes and intentions with inspired action.
It's time to shape our own destiny together in community...
You are warmly invited to join us around the Campfire