Why a nature festival?

In a time of climate change, bushfires, and global pandemics, now more than ever we need to cultivate a deeper relationship with nature as a society.

That relationship is fundamental to our personal wellbeing, core to who we are as a state, and the foundation of all of the other work that we undertake to protect and steward nature.

Plus, being in nature feels good. We know it intuitively, Aboriginal culture values it explicitly, and modern science has more recently begun to quantify the wellbeing benefits of nature.

We think that's worth celebrating. We hope you'll join us.

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Sponsors and partners

This festival is truly collaborative effort and only possible due to the dozens upon dozens of organisations, artists, and community members who have signed up to host events. Out of our many stalwart supporters, we'd like to recognise a few that have been with us for the long haul and who are core to organising and making this festival possible.

Principal sponsor

Our principal sponsor is Green Adelaide, Adelaide’s first dedicated urban environmental specialist organisation supporting a cooler, greener and wilder metropolitan city and suburbs.

They spearheaded the campaign that showcased Adelaide’s credentials and saw our city become Australia’s 1st, and the world’s 2nd National Park City on 10 Dec 2021.

Major sponsors

Designed for life, Adelaide is consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the world.

Recently recognised as as the world's second National Park City, The City of Adelaide are a Major Sponsor and true partner in the ongoing success of the festival.

The South Australian Museum's purpose is to inspire in all people a wonder and curiosity about life on Earth.

SAM provide the venue for the Nature Festival Hub, the pop-up home of the festival that lives on the SAM front lawn.

The Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing (ORSR) recognise physical activity can fit seamlessly into the daily lives of South Australians, and nature is an important part of a healthy, active life.

As a major sponsor, ORSR support our Adventure program.

Hinterland is a human-centred design studio working in belonging, nature, and friendship. They specialise in ambitious projects that reimagine how we live, work, and relate.

Hinterland have been central in shaping the vision, strategy, intent, and collaborative structure of the festival.

Festival partners

Nature Play SA is a small team working hard to bring the essential elements of childhood back into our lives.

We're particularly appreciative of the spirit of collaboration of Nature Play SA and their decision to combine their existing Nature Play festival with ours and work together on this bigger shared vision.

Trees for Life is a not-for-profit community-based organisation working with everyday people to help restore our natural environment through revegetation and conservation.

As a core festival partner, Trees for Life

Nature Conservation Society of SA is a voluntary body with members drawn from all parts of the State and all walks of life.

NCSSA have been a strong supporter of the Amongst It project and Nature Festival project since our inception.

Conservation SA is the voice for South Australia's environment. They've been committed to protecting nature in SA for more than 50 years.

Conservation SA were the first hosting organisation for this collaborative effort and remain strong supporters.

South Australian Tourism Commission are supporting our strategy, growth, and the first interstate marketing of the Nature Festival.

We are proud to have Arts SA support the featured Tea House work in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.

ABC Radio Adelaide have joined us as a Media Partner this year and are running the world's first moss-based quiz night hosted by ABC Radio's Jules Schiller.

Cultural ambassador

Jack Buckskin

"As human beings in the environment, it is crucial for us to understand that we are a speck... we have our own place in this environment just like every other living creature. My connection and relationship to nature is that of the First Nations people of this land, but it’s also my responsibility to teach, educate and acknowledge the stories of the past and how it makes us who we are today."
Small but mighty

Festival team

Get in touch

hello@naturefestival.org.au


You grow up knowing that these are all your family—you can never feel lonely in that situation, you know? You just can’t. How can you when all around you are family members from the ground up to all the trees around you to the clouds hanging up, the birds flying by, the animals and reptiles hidden in the shrub [...]

It’s a beautiful way of being. It doesn’t push anyone out but it brings everybody in. And the completeness of being who you are, where you are, is a really good feeling. It’s abeautiful feeling. I wouldn’t exchange it for anything.

- Uncle Bob Randall, The Land Owns Us

How did the we start?

Our history

The Nature Festival was a pilot project of Amongst It. Amongst It is a collaborative, cross-sector innovation project exploring our individual and societal relationships with nature. For the past several years, we have been exploring creative ways to build individual relationships to everyday nature and celebrate how important nature is to the identity of South Australia.

We believe a positive, creative approach to shifting our cultural narrative around nature is one of the most important conservation activities we can undertake. We aim to cut through politics and division by reminding people of the essence of what it means to be human in a more-than-human world.

In 2018 and 2019, Amongst It ran and funded a variety of projects scattered throughout the year. In 2020, the Nature Festival was a pilot of turning those diverse activities into a coherent program for South Australia.