Opportunity for Queensland’s Indigenous artists to shine at Cairns Airport
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) and Cairns Airport are seeking creative submissions from Queensland’s Indigenous artists to have their artworks featured prominently within the Airport’s newly redeveloped T2 Domestic Terminal. CIAF and Cairns Airport enhanced their already established partnership at this year’s 10th anniversary event in July when they jointly announced a new Public Art Commissioning Project that would commission Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to design a sculptural or artistic element for permanent display within the Cairns Airport. Interested artists are invited to tender their creative concepts as part of an Expression of Interest phase that is now open until Friday 14 February 2020. CIAF’s Artistic Director Janina Harding said t this is a wonderful opportunity for either an individual or collective group of artists to have their work showcased within one the city’s most frequented visitor locations. “While this is a great win for artists in terms of profiling their work, it will also contribute to providing visitors with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Queensland’s First Peoples’ culture and creative expression. “The design brief to artists is formulated around capturing the essence and beauty of the natural wonder of the Great Barrier Reef, tropical rainforests and rural landscapes through exploration of form, color and movement. “The commissioned piece, that will be determined by a judging panel comprising representatives from CIAF and Cairns Airport, will have to visually evoke the viewer and as a result, is expected to be bold, representative of the FNQ region, and innovative,” Ms Harding said. Cairns Airport CEO Norris Carter said each year CIAF attracts visitors from Australia and the world to fly into Cairns to experience Queensland’s vibrant Indigenous culture. “We recognise the importance of First People’s arts and culture to this region - that is as rich as it is diverse. Together with CIAF we are excited to oversee such an exciting Public Art Commissioning Project. “Cairns Airport is proud to elevate its support for CIAF in this way creates another new platform for artists while also focussing the limelight on Queensland’s rich cultural heritage,” Mr Carter said. CIAF and Cairns Airport’s Public Art Commissioning Project is a five step process. Interested artists are required to submit their EOI by Friday 14 February 2020, with the winning submission announced in February-March. The completed artwork will be on show at CIAF 2020 prior to installation at Cairns Airport in September. To view the specifications of the Expression of Interest, artists are invited to visit the CIAF website for details and timelines available here. Timelines for CIAF & Cairns Airport Public Art Commissioning Project STAGE 1 | EOI & Submission Deadline: 14 February 2020 STAGE 2 I JUDGING & Selection Date: February - March 2020 STAGE 3 | Artwork produced Deadline: 30 June 2020 STAGE 4 I Display at CIAF/New EOI Opens for 2021 10-12 July 2020 STAGE 5 I Permanent Display at Airport September 2020
