The Story of SEWE

Since the inaugural SEWE was held in February 1983, we have become an important and highly-anticipated event in Charleston, kicking off the city’s tourism season and becoming synonymous with Presidents’ Day weekend celebrations. The original show hosted 100 artist and exhibitors and 5,000 attendees. Now SEWE welcomes approximately 500 artists, exhibitors and wildlife experts and 40,000 attendees annually, generating an estimated $50 million in economic impact every year.

We are proud of the legacy we have built in our community and the conservation world, and we are thankful to those who make SEWE a tradition every February.

While we continue to grow, evolve our vision and diversify our show to entertain our loyal attendees, one thing has not changed — we have and always will remain a celebration of wildlife art and the sporting lifestyle.

SEWE is as important today as it has ever been. Our organization’s multifaceted mission is imperative on many fronts. Each event brings us closer to reaching the goals we set when SEWE was founded in 1983 — to make positive contributions, through entertainment, to the genre of wildlife art, conservation, education and the local, regional and state economies.

 

From The SEWE Archives

Over the past 40 years, SEWE has grown tremendously, from an intimate wildlife art show in 1983 to now the nation’s premier celebration of wildlife art and the great outdoors. Take a trip down memory lane with us, as we reflect on where we’ve been and where we are now…

The Fine Art Gallery

Marion Square

The Kid Zone

The Gala & Auction

Artist, Grant Hacking

The Streets of Charleston

The Soirée

Birds of Prey

…because some things never change!