“SEWE?” many of my friends and partners asked. “What is SEWE??” Well, SEWE stands for the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, an immersive, three-day festival that celebrates wildlife, conservation, and art in downtown Charleston. Events and attractions include live animal shows, birds of prey flight demonstrations, sporting dog demonstrations, conservation talks, educational programs, and much more.
This year marked its 44th annual showcase in Charleston, taking place from February 13 to 15. It’s grown from early-years attendance of about 5,000 people to more than 40,000 visitors and about 500 artists and exhibitors. It’s one of the largest wildlife art events in the US!
I went to SEWE in 2025 after having heard about it from friends who’d encouraged me to check it out. Pretty soon, I realized that one thing was missing: diversity in the audience. As I walked through the various exhibits and locations, I noticed that I was one of a very few people of color. While it was a wonderful gathering and everyone was warm and inviting, SEWE didn’t have true representation of everyone who recreates in and protects the outdoors. It wasn’t reaching all segments of outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists.
The following week, my mind was racing with thoughts, mostly centered around how I could invite more people of color to attend the event. At the same time, I wanted to make my friends, colleagues, and any people of color would be welcomed, especially if arriving in larger numbers. I even stopped for a moment to consider whether the organizers wanted the event to be more inclusive. There was only one way to find out: Reach out and have the conversation!
I was happy to discover that the president of SEWE was excited to try something new. He shared that he has often thought of how to authentically achieve this idea. Over the next several months, we discussed how to have increased awareness and greater BIPOC involvement and representation at the event, and our teams’ ideas were met with enthusiasm and support.
February 2026 marked the BIPOC Outdoor Collective’s first official collaboration with SEWE. We are happy to report that our presence was well received! This year, as I walked around various venues, I saw people who looked like me; we smiled and did the “nod”—that acknowledgment stating “I see you.”