The Jervis Bay and Basin Arts Incorporated, a not-for-profit community association, decided to secure the festival's future it needed to be held yearly - not bi-annually.

Volunteer festival director, Doctor Natalie McDonagh, said the community had embraced the announcement.

"There has been a lot of excitement, particularly from local tourism and hospitality businesses," Dr McDonagh.

"They recognise that having a vibrant yearly winter event, especially one that goes on for 10 days, is going to be special."

She feels people are getting excited about SeeChange and its new direction.

The arts community has also embraced the announcement.

"We are getting different artists participating this year and some of the more regular exhibitors are choosing not to exhibit themselves this year but will help other artists instead," she said.

Dr McDonagh said one of the exciting new features was establishing "a haven" at the Huskisson Community Hall.

The hall, for the entire festival, will be transformed into a creative arts hub.

The hub will be the home for the main visual art and small sculpture exhibition which has a first prize of $5000.

Independent judges will award the prize to the work they deem the best.

Huskisson's White Sands Park will also be a focal point of the festival.

The event's official opening, on Saturday June 1 from 4.30pm, will be held in the park.

A Welcome to Country and traditional dancing from the Vincentia High School dancers will be some of the opening night features.

"They [the dancers] do magnificent work," the festival director said.

The dancers will perform a traditional dance but they have also been working on another piece.

"They are also going to be working with some contemporary performance artists who are illuminated and so as dusk drops there will be some very exciting things to see," she said.

They will perform on an outside stage and there will be undercover seating.

Things continue from 5.30pm when Huskisson Jervis Bay Food Network's SeeFood at SeeChange commences.

"The main street of Huskisson will come alive with wonderful menus and flavours being served up," Dr McDonagh said.

"I really encourage people to come because there will be world of food and great cultural diversity to enjoy."

There will be food to tempt all family members.

Entertainers will be performing all along the streets on opening night.

"There will be dancing, performances, music and so we are looking forward to a really exciting event," Dr McDonagh said.

Over the June long weekend, a light and sound installation, along with pop-up theatre, will be on show in White Sands Park.

Paula and Milt Nudd, from the Huskisson and Framing, will be opening up their gallery for an Indigneous Makers Market for the 10-day festival.

The festival director said local Indigenous makers will have their efforts on display with visiting exhibitors.

"I was really keen that we create these spaces and opportunities for rich culture sharing," she said.

This year's festival starts on Saturday, June 1 with more details to come.

Read more: More on SeeChange's new direction