A mixture of Fiji's top artists, musicians, crafts people, performers and the public will make up Fiji's first arts festival this week.

Director Fiji Arts Council Letila Mitchell said the event called the Wasawasa Festival of Oceans, with the slogan “Protecting the Environment and Building Communities through the Arts”, is a series of performances, workshops, collaborations and activities which will use the arts to explore social change.

Mitchell added the festival will also have a strong social responsibility aspect, working with marginalized and disadvantaged youth and people from squatter settlements, to provide alternative livelihoods and develop sustainable income streams.

She said the festival will also have a strong environmental custodianship focus on how people can live in harmony with the world around us.

The Wasawasa Festival of Oceans will be held at the Thurston Gardens from tomorrow right through to Saturday.