History

About SWELL Sculpture Festival

SWELL Sculpture Festival (SWELL) is a multifaceted, not-for-profit arts organisation based in Currumbin, Gold Coast, Queensland. Since its inception in 2003, SWELL has exhibited over 1,479 sculptures in its signature outdoor exhibition on Currumbin Beach, representing a portfolio valued at over $21 million (2024).

Each year, SWELL transforms coastal landscapes into expansive outdoor galleries, offering large-scale public art experiences that connect people, art, and place. Through its major annual festival and a growing suite of year-round programs, SWELL invites audiences from all walks of life to experience art in engaging and accessible ways—across beaches, parks, galleries, and public spaces.

Our Purpose & Impact

SWELL exists to make art, culture, and creativity accessible to all. Reimagining natural and urban environments through sculpture, performance, and installations, the festival produces meaningful, sensory-rich experiences that stay with audiences long after they leave. SWELL is for everyone—an inclusive, intergenerational platform that fosters belonging, joy, and reflection.

Now in its 23rd year (2025), SWELL continues to provide a world-class platform for artists—from emerging to established—supporting sustainable creative careers and encouraging bold artistic expression. Through storytelling, education, and immersive programming, SWELL promotes wellbeing, fosters social cohesion, and strengthens cultural identity across Queensland and beyond.

SWELL Sculpture Festival’s Signature Event & Programming

SWELL’s core offering, the annual outdoor exhibition on Currumbin Beach featuring over 80 spectacular large-scale sculptures in September 2025.

Supported by a rich program of complementary initiatives:

SWELL Fringe – 10 days and nights of performances, music, and contemporary arts experiences.

SWELL Kids Elements – Creative, hands-on programs for children and families.

SWELL Wellness – Community wellbeing sessions including yoga, soundscapes, and sensory walks.

SWELL Smalls Gallery – An indoor gallery space showcasing smaller-scale, collectible works.

Pop Up Exhibitions - Across City of Gold Coast and beyond

Year-round Art Projects and Commissions

In addition to our signature festival in September, SWELL Sculpture delivers art projects and commissions through the year. These provide a further platform for artists, employ arts workers and connect with people, art and place.

A Platform for Artists

SWELL champions local, national, and international artists, welcoming creatives from all Australian states and territories, and across the globe. Artists describe their SWELL experience as life-changing, offering them the rare opportunity to create large-scale works for public view in a highly supportive, high-profile environment.

SWELL strongly supports First Nations artists, inviting them to share stories and perspectives through visual and performing arts. The festival’s open, inclusive model nurtures a global artist community—one that continues to support and uplift each other long after the sand is swept away.

Our Visionary Legacy

SWELL was born in 2002 from a bold and creative vision shared by co-founders Natasha Edwards and Kylie Mitchell-Smith. In 2003, the festival debuted with just 23 sculptures and 6,000 visitors—an ambitious beginning that sparked a cultural movement.

Under the enduring artistic leadership of Natasha Edwards, an advocate for the power of public art to connect people, place, and story, SWELL has flourished into an internationally recognised platform for contemporary sculpture. Natasha was joined by festival director Ruth Della (2004–2018) to shape its unique voice, and since late 2018, Natasha Edwards and Executive Director Dee Steinfort have led with integrity, innovation, and heart.

Driven by a commitment to artistic excellence and community impact, SWELL has supported thousands of artists from around the world. Through showcasing artworks, mentorships, internships, and professional development, SWELL invests in the future of the arts, inspiring audiences and empowering artists to dream, create, and connect.

Governance & Support

As a registered charity with DGR and TCC status, SWELL is governed by a volunteer board of arts and industry experts. Financial support is sourced from a diverse range of revenue streams, including:

• State and Local Government funding
• Philanthropy and donations
• Artwork sales and commissions
• Fundraising initiatives and partnerships
• Project-based funding and private support

Our Mission

To connect people, art and place.

Our Vision

SWELL Sculpture Festival shines as a global arts organisation, connecting artists and audiences through transformative public art.

We present Queensland’s largest free outdoor sculpture exhibition and deliver site-specific programs—permanent, temporary, and ephemeral—nationally and internationally, with a strong focus on sculptural installations.

SWELL invites artists to share their stories, supports artistic excellence, and creates inclusive cultural experiences that spark conversation, build social cohesion, and foster a deep sense of place.

We champion diversity, encourage collaboration, and nurture artists at every stage of their careers—strengthening the arts sector and sustaining a vibrant creative future.

Image credit: Andy Scott_Arabesque