As with all years since the festival began in 2010, SWFW is committed to offering a high-quality, all-inclusive festival that showcases NSW Aboriginal culture on the Mid North Coast.

As part of this, for 2018, the alliance had made the decision to eliminate the $5 entry fee at the festival gates, in order to make the festival truly accessible to all members of the community irrespective of their financial circumstances.

While some government funding is channelled towards the festival, the majority of its financing relies on the enormous generosity of sponsors, partners and supporters who are aligned with the mission of Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance. Sadly, there were not enough donors available this year to make 2018 possible with the alliance’s plans to offer a truly free event to the public.

Amid this, 2017 was a difficult year for SWFW with a 25 per cent reduction in income, and a greater burden placed on fewer staff members running the alliance’s many projects that serve Mid North Coast communities throughout the year.

SWFW is committed to offering the festival in 2019, with planning being undertaken from mid-2018.

Since it began the festival has engaged:

• in excess of 50,000 attendees and 300-plus volunteers

• almost 150 Aboriginal stallholders and small businesses and food vendors of all backgrounds

• 120 Aboriginal cultural practitioners facilitating cultural workshops (dance, art, weaving, canoe-making, didgeridoo playing and language)

• 400-plus Aboriginal artists performing their music on the main stage

• Elders story-telling programs for each nation

• bush tucker tours with respected Elders.

The alliance says the festival plays a valuable role in the Mid North Coast community by offering non-Aboriginal people a unique opportunity to participate in traditional and contemporary Aboriginal culture via inclusive activities and workshops. By complementing the activities of the SWFW Cultural Programs Unit, it provides valuable opportunities for program and project participants to be involved as festival workshop facilitators, artists, performers or volunteers.

SWFW invites support from across the business community to share in the success of the 2019 festival. Contact Chris Spencer at gm@saltwaterfreshwater.com.au.