The decision to make the SeeChange Festival a yearly event looks to be paying off for the Jervis Bay and Basin Arts Committee.
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The event's committee, led by volunteer festival Dr Natalie McDonagh, decided starting this year to make the festival an annual event.
Dr McDonagh said in terms of visitor numbers, art and ticket sales when combined with feedback from festival goers the event was overall a resounding success.
"The exact numbers of festival goers and breakdown of where they came from are still being collated and analysed," Dr McDonagh.
"However, based on initial count SeeChange 2019 numbers over 10 days/two weekends exceeded the 2018 festival, which was longer and covered three weekends.
"In particular, having the festival hub at the Huskisson Community Centre was a resounding success and very well received for its ambience and the experience it offered."
Dr McDonagh said the hub was a success because it was a place to view high-quality art, relax, have coffee/lunch, get information, enjoy a rolling program of events and experimental performances in the Annexe and allowed people participate in the experiences designed to enrich engagement with the visual art such as the improved live music responding to works in the exhibition.
White Sands Park also held some special events, according to the festival director.
"Having the opening ceremony at White Sands park worked really well. It brought the arts and food sections physically closer together and we had more undercover seating," she said.
When you have people already lining up to be part of the event next year you must have done something right.
"There have already been a number of unsolicited approaches from new artists and performers wanting to participate in SeeChange 2020," Dr McDonagh said.
She added approaches from potential sponsors/supporters made also been made for next year.
"Being annual allows JBBArts to take advantage of these and other opportunities," Dr McDonagh said.
"It also increases the support for local tourism and hospitality businesses - being an annual winter event providing business generation opportunities."
The festival, when it came to finances also looks positive.
"In terms of budget, financial transactions and analysis are still underway but it is expected the festival will break even," she said.
"JBBArts acknowledges and appreciates the small number of local tourism and hospitality businesses that are currently willing and generous supporters of SeeChange - providing financial and in-kind support."
Dr McDonagh said they would like to see more financial support from local businesses and governments.
Splash and dash - festival highlights
- Community collaboration one of the key aspects of the festival.
- Huskisson Community Centre and the regular users of the hall allowing JBBArts exclusive use of the centre to transform it into a cultural arts hub.
- The project with the Men's Shed, Sanctuary Point to produce the modular display system to hang art in the Huskisson Community Centre.
- Opening night (Saturday June 1) with Welcome to Country by Uncle Paul and Joe McLeod with the smoking ceremony with a wonderful dance from the Vincentia High students.
- Outdoor shows by Laughter House Entertainment.
- The great vibe continued on opening night around Owen Street for SeeFood@SeeChange.
- Four days of performance arts event in collaboration with laughter House Entertainment worked brilliantly around the long weekend.
- Families, youths and adults having a go in The Circus Drop Zone - trying trapeze, unicycle, juggling, plate spinning and more.
- Family shows in The Alkazar pop-up theatre attracted good audiences.
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