Bellingen Shire

Coffs Harbour

Kempsey Shire

Nambucca Shire

Port Macquarie-Hastings

Aboriginal Population / Language Groups

• 12,534 Aboriginal people live in the region representing (approximately 4.5% of the total population.)
• Highest concentration of population is in the Kempsey Shire.
• 12 Aboriginal Land Councils in the region.

Arts Mid North Coast Aboriginal Arts Development

• In 2007/2008 Arts Mid North Coast developed Foundations of Our Future a five-year strategic plan formed in consultation with 300 artists and cultural practitioners across the region. The plan aimed at building regional and community structures around arts and cultural practices to assist in overcoming the barriers to individual and community development. It led to the establishment of an Alliance of 9 Local Aboriginal Land Councils, the employment of a Regional Aboriginal Cultural Development Officer through the Australian Government’s Indigenous Cultural Support program, the development of Arts Centres in Kempsey, Forster and Coffs Harbour and the development of Aboriginal Design courses through North Coast TAFE.
• In 2010, the Alliance became incorporated as Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance Aboriginal Corporation, using the Saltwater Freshwater brand name to reflect the cultural identity and uniqueness of the area and covering the four language areas of the Worimi, Birpai, Dunghutti and Gumbaynggirr.  This organisation also manages the annual Saltwater Freshwater Festival held on Australia Day of each year in rotating locations around the region (Kempsey in 2014).

Festivals

• Saltwater Freshwater Festival is an annual Aboriginal cultural festival held on Australia Day
• National Indigenous Vibe 3on3 Basketball and Hip Hop Challenge

Aboriginal Arts Organisations

• Bindi Aboriginal Cultural and Heritage Centre, Wauchope
• Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery, Kempsey
• Gangga Marrang Art and Craft Group, Taree
• Gillawarra Arts and Crafts, Taree
• Goori Broadcasters of Radio, Nambucca
• Manning Regional Art Gallery
• Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Cooperative, Nambucca Heads
• Slippry Sirkus, Wauchope
• Tobwabba Art, Forster
• Wutuma Keeping Place Aboriginal Corporation, Kempsey
• Yarrawarra Aboriginal Corporation, Corindi Beach
• Yawarr Ngujawiny Dance Group
• Gurehlgam Corporation
• Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance
• National Aboriginal Design Agency

Aboriginal Arts Training Institutions

• North Coast TAFE
• Southern Cross University