Arts + Culture Across SOUTH EAST NSW Contact US Meet our team Meet our board Follow our socials Email us Call us Share your news SEA business hours 9:30 am – 5:00 pm; Monday - Friday Postal address PO Box 577 Bega, NSW 2550 Australia Entity Name: South East Arts (NSW) Inc. ABN: 91 633 041 645 ACNC rego date: 01/01/2015 Tax status: Registered not-for-profit; donations over $2 are tax-deductible. our People South East Arts STAFF Kate Bradbury Executive Director ed@southeastarts.org.au Available Monday to Friday Jo Naughton Communications & Projects Officer seainfo@southeastarts.org.au Available Monday to Wednesday. Chelsy Atkins Aboriginal Arts & Community Development Officer chelsy@southeastarts.org.au Available Tuesday to Thursday Abbey Hetherington Finance & Grants Officer seafao@southeastarts.org.au Available Tuesdays by appointment South East Arts board Denise Ferris Chair of the Board Denise Ferris, artist and educator, is Professor Emerita at ANU – previously Head of ANU School, Art & Design. Her art practice centres on landscape photographs, environmental change and connection to place in the Australian Snowy Mountains. Read more... Gabrielle Journey Jones Deputy Chair Gabrielle Journey Jones is a Social Worker with special interest in governance and is the Executive Officer of SEWACS Budjangal (South East Women and Children’s Services Inc). Gabrielle is a poet, percussionist and event producer. Read more... Karen Wright Board Member Karen Wright is a dedicated mental health and women's advocate, based in the Bega Valley, Southern NSW, a region she has called home for many years. She is passionate about the role of the arts in connecting rural communities, supporting mental health and reducing social isolation. Read more... Silas Dunstan Treasurer Silas is a finance professional with a career spanning international corporates to local small enterprise. Read more... Narelle Davis Board Member Councillor Narelle Davis currently serves on the Snowy Monaro Regional Council, where she advocates for community wellbeing, aged care access, and respectful civic engagement. Read more... Craig Garrett Board Member Craig Garrett is a writer, community radio journalist and an international audio producer, with 30 years’ experience in the arts, publishing, community broadcasting, podcasting and not-for-profit sectors. Read more... Sahra Tohow Dixon Board Member Sahra Tohow Dixon – a farmer, founder and former NSW Government policy professional – Sahra lives and works across the Bega Valley, Eurobodalla and Snowy Monaro, bringing a unique perspective shaped by regional enterprise, community leadership and public service. Read more... Anthony Mayne Board Member Anthony Mayne has spent many years in the creative arts space, both as an actor and local theatre producer. In 2016 he co-founded the Moruya Red Door Theatre Company and is active in both the South Coast and Canberra theatre world. Read more... Libby Litchfield Board Member Libby is a Director at Hazeldean, a Merino and Angus Stud near Cooma. Libby has a strong community and cultural connection to both Monaro and the South Coast, and has an interest in supporting and developing local arts and culture. Read more...

<< Back to Contact Us Sahra Tohow Dixon Board Member Sahra Tohow Dixon: A farmer, founder and former NSW Government policy professional. Sahra lives and works across the Bega Valley, Eurobodalla and Snowy Monaro, bringing a unique perspective shaped by regional enterprise, community leadership and public service. With experience spanning government policy, governance, marketing and communications, cultural institutions and community engagement, Sahra combines strategic expertise with a genuine commitment to the creative future of our region. As the founder of regional businesses and a passionate advocate for thriving rural communities, she understands the vital role arts and culture play in building connected, resilient places. Her experience across all three shires SEA serves and her enthusiasm for strengthening creative opportunities throughout the South East make her a valuable addition to the Board. << Previous Back to Team & Board Next >>

Back to directory Wendy McDougall Award-winning freelance photographer and photo-based artist. She received an Australia Day Award for services to Arts & Culture Creative focus: Craft & design, Music, Visual arts Services / Open to: Collaboration, Commissions, Consulting, Exhibitions, Work for sale Website / Socials https://www.wendymcdougall.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/wendymcdougallphotos/ https://www.instagram.com/wendyartcloud2628/ Primary location: Snowy Monaro Image from 'Someone is Always Watching' series. ©W.McDougall Since 1984, Wendy has exhibited widely, with 21 solo exhibitions and 58 group shows to her name. Her next solo exhibition takes a new turn, stepping into the world of abstract compositions and recycling her own archival images to stay connected to the ideas that have always driven her work: identity, place in the world, and the threads of humour, music and nature that run through it. With over 40 years of experience in the arts, Wendy offers consultations, workshops and is available for commissions. Her photographs are held in the collections of the National Library of Australia, the NSW State Library, the Museum of Sydney and the Powerhouse Museum. << Previous profile << Back to directory Next profile >> Want to be listed in the SEA Creative Directory? Are you a creative or group in the Bega Valley, Snowy Monaro or Eurobodalla? Register and get listed Need to update something? Request a profile update via seainfo@southeastarts.org.au

Back to directory Lilith Lilith are carving out their place as the Far South Coast’s fiercest young heavy metal band. Creative focus: Music Services / Open to: Collaboration, Performance / gigs Website / Socials https://www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/lilithband https://www.instagram.com/liliths_band http://open.spotify.com/artist/6XfWyYbHyYf3klRjVmE4OO Primary location: Bega Valley Shire Lilith From Far South Coast, NSW (genre: metal) Emerging out of Bega in 2024, the group began as three childhood friends who bonded over a shared love of heavy music. Despite being young, the band have already made their mark – their latest single S.U.B.A.W dropped on Spotify to local acclaim, and live shows across the valley. A string of powerful performances throughout 2025 and 2026 has brought Lilith’s ferocity to wider audiences. Recent media attention and accolades such as winning 2026 Beats on the Beach is proving that heavy music has a place on the Far South Coast. Members: Lincoln Dack (guitar), Matilda Dack (bass), Toby Naughton (drums). << Previous profile << Back to directory Next profile >> Want to be listed in the SEA Creative Directory? Are you a creative or group in the Bega Valley, Snowy Monaro or Eurobodalla? Register and get listed Need to update something? Request a profile update via seainfo@southeastarts.org.au

Back to directory Artessence Gallery Art Gallery + framing + curation + creative services, Pambula Creative focus: Craft & design, Venue/Gallery/Studio, Visual arts Services / Open to: Arts admin, Collaboration, Commissions, Printing / framing, Work for sale Website / Socials https://www.artessencegallery.com/ https://www.facebook.com/artessencegallery https://www.instagram.com/artessencegallery/ Primary location: Bega Valley Shire Art Essence gallery logo Artessence Gallery, located in Pambula on Yuin Country, is a curated space focused on thoughtful, contemporary work with a strong sense of place and story. We showcase work by visual artists and artisans from the Sapphire Coast and surrounding regions. Artessence supports creative practice through professional services and opportunities for both emerging and established artists, fostering growth, collaboration, and community connection. We provide professional fine art framing, and art reproduction photography and printing in-house. Our creative team are also available for creative events production, arts administration consultancy, in-home curation and art hanging services. Visitors are invited to experience and collect authentic, regionally inspired art in a welcoming and charming heritage cottage. << Previous profile << Back to directory Next profile >> Want to be listed in the SEA Creative Directory? Are you a creative or group in the Bega Valley, Snowy Monaro or Eurobodalla? Register and get listed Need to update something? Request a profile update via seainfo@southeastarts.org.au

Back to directory Bandicoot Pottery Ignite Your Creative Pottery Potential Creative focus: Venue/Gallery/Studio, Visual arts Services / Open to: Contracting, Exhibitions, Residencies, Work for sale, Workshops Website / Socials https://www.bandicootpottery.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/gabriellepowell7685/ https://www.facebook.com/bandicootpottery/ Primary location: Bega Valley Shire Bandicoot Pottery - Gabrielle Powell & Daniel Lafferty Bandicoot Pottery offers engaging pottery workshops and serves as a training facility for potters, providing expert mentoring and skill development. Founded in 1990 by ceramicists Daniel Lafferty and Gabrielle Powell, our passion for clay began during our training at the ANU Canberra School of Art. << Previous profile << Back to directory Next profile >> Want to be listed in the SEA Creative Directory? Are you a creative or group in the Bega Valley, Snowy Monaro or Eurobodalla? Register and get listed Need to update something? Request a profile update via seainfo@southeastarts.org.au

<< Back to Contact Us Denise Ferris Chair of the Board chair@southeastarts.org.au Denise Ferris, artist and educator, is Professor Emerita at ANU, and was previously Head of ANU School, Art & Design. Living on the Monaro in NSW, her recent art practice centres on landscape photographs, environmental change and connection to place in the Australian Snowy Mountains. Her photographs are in Australian public collections including the National Gallery, National Library of Australia, the ACT Legislative Assembly Art Collection and Canberra Museum and Gallery, as well as international collections, the District Six Museum, Cape Town; Haldenstein, Switzerland and Nara City, Japan. As Head of the ANU Art & Design school Denise contributed to the development of visual art, craft and design tertiary education in Australia. Her national involvement continues as a co-opted Executive Member of the Australian Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Art and advocating regional culture as a Snowy Monaro Regional Council 355 Art & Culture committee member. Email: chair@southeastarts.org.au << Previous Back to Team & Board Next >>

<< Back to Contact Us Jo Naughton Communications & Projects Officer seainfo@southeastarts.org.au Jo is your go-to for promoting your work, exhibition or tour via our channels. Jo manages our websites, newsletter, digital channels and SEA projects throughout the year. << Previous Back to Team & Board Next >>

Back to all projects supported project: Bega Streetlight Festival Artist / Org: SEA, Bega Chamber of Commerce, BVSC When: 2026 Project type: Partnership, Event Let’s Light up Bega’s Streets! From 5pm til late, Friday, 25 September 2026 Bega Streetlight Festival brings together food, music, art and interactive experiences in a celebration that reflects the spirit and creativity of the Bega Valley. This illuminated evening brings our townsfolk out into the streets to celebrate creativity and community. This annual Street Festival will be held in 2026 from 5pm on Friday, 25 September. Bega Streetlight Photo Exhibition Find more at southeastarts.org.au/streetlight South East Arts will once again be running the hugely popular photography exhibition. The theme for the 2026 Photography Exhibition is "A Snapshot of Belonging" . 20 finalist photos be included in the Bega Streetlight Festival Photography Exhibition in shopfronts along Carp Street, Bega. Bega Streetlight Poetry Prize Find more at southeastarts.org.au/streetlight The Bega Streetlight Poetry Prize is hosted by Candelo Books on Carp Street during the festival. Poets are be invited to submit poems reflecting on "Belonging" in the Bega Valley. Finalists are invited to perform their poem during the Festival. The Bega Streetlight Festival is proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program, led by Transport for NSW. This event is a collaboration between Bega Valley Shire Council, Bega Chamber of Commerce and South East Arts. 'Bioluminescence' lights up Ayers Walkway at the 2025 Bega Streetlight Festival << Previous Back to projects Next >>

Back to all projects supported project: Report: Cultural Tourism in Regional NSW Artist / Org: NSW Regional Arts Network When: 2024 Project type: Advocacy, Consultation, Position Statement The Regional Arts Network (RAN) commissioned a research report in 2024 on Cultural Tourism in regional NSW, undertaken by Patternmakers and funded through Create NSW. The 2024 Cultural Tourism in Regional NSW Report is available here: Cultural Tourism Full Report 2024 - Regional Arts Network NSW (PDF) Cultural Tourism Summary Report 2024 (PDF) Snowy River Sphere - Snowy Mountains Highway, Cooma NSW Giiyong Festival, 2023 Photo: David Rogers.png 17885265714183425_edited.jpg -post-ai-image-8.png 17928199104213132_edited.jpg Show More << Previous Back to projects Next >>