The Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance is excited to announce the launch of NEXTgen Markers – a dynamic celebration of Aboriginal youth creativity, culture, and storytelling. This special event will take place at The Gallery on Saturday 18th October 2025, from 1PM to 3PM.
Funded through the 2025 NAIDOC Grants Program, NEXTgen Markers brings together students, families, and the wider community to experience art in a powerful new way. Aboriginal student artworks from a 2022 project have been transformed into bold, weatherproof street art – ensuring their stories and perspectives are seen, respected, and celebrated in public spaces for years to come.
The exhibition proudly embodies the 2025 NAIDOC theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.” These three guiding values shine through every aspect of the project:
- Strength – empowering young artists to embrace and share their heritage with confidence.
- Vision – reimagining how Aboriginal art is experienced by bringing it beyond gallery walls and into the streets.
- Legacy – leaving a lasting cultural footprint, where the stories of Country and community are preserved for the future.
“The launch event will be a community celebration featuring live radio broadcasting, cultural food experiences, interactive activities, and the unveiling of the student-designed street art. Each student will also take home their own artwork as a sticker – a personal keepsake of their creativity and cultural pride“, says a SWFW Program Team Lead
This is more than an exhibition. It’s a movement that places Aboriginal youth at the heart of cultural storytelling, empowering them to shape how their stories are seen, heard, and remembered. It’s about giving the next generation the tools, confidence, and visibility to honour their heritage while leaving a creative legacy that will inspire communities for years to come.
📍 Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance, The Gallery, 6 Park Avenue Coffs Harbour
📅 Saturday 18th October 2025
🕐 1PM – 3PM
🔗 RSVP essential for planning
This project is presented to you by Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance and supported by Aboriginal Affairs, NSW.
Interested in partnering with us? Learn more at HERE.
Media Contact: Janan Greenwood | General Manager | gm@saltwaterfreshwater.com.au
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