News

Australia’s premier Art Fair and Queensland’s quintessential celebration of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander art and cultures, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF), is putting the health and safety of communities first, announcing we will present a world class digital experience in November 2021.

In considering current border closures and the continuing COVID-19 crisis in Australia, the CIAF Board of Directors have decided this year’s event—postponed last month to November—will be exclusively presented online.

While the programming information is now outdated, CIAF's catalogue ⁠— a special edition of Art Collector magazine ⁠— can be read online below.The magazine features intriguing articles and artist profiles, highlighting the incredible Indigenous artists, designers and performers of Queensland and their cultures!

While the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) has postponed our series of events until 10-14 November, 2021, there are still a number of riveting exhibitions happening across Cairns in August!

A host of visual art exhibitions will proceed as planned across local Cairns galleries this month.

CIAF’s 2021 exhibition program promises a visual feast of artworks now installed across the city’s galleries, from Tanks Arts Centre, to the central hubs of North Site Contemporary Arts, Cairns Art Gallery and Courthouse Gallery.  All exhibitions are open and free to be enjoyed!

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2021 postponed until November

On behalf of the Board and Staff of the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF), we wish to advise that our programmed events are moving to November, 2021. This decision is not made lightly, but has been made in response to the growing COVID-19 concerns in South East Queensland and the country. The safety of our stakeholders and their communities continues to be our first priority.

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) wishes to thank the Australian Government, The Hon. Paul Fletcher MP and The Hon. Ken Wyatt AM MP for their valued support.

The support, part of the Regional Arts Tourism Events funding, will allow CIAF to continue to present hybrid events (both physical and digital) in order to maximise economic opportunities for our artists, designers and performers in an ethical marketplace.

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) knows that many people may be concerned about whether or not our events will go ahead from 17-22 August.

At present CIAF is planning to go ahead as scheduled, in a physical format.

CIAF is a hybrid event this year! This means that 2021.ciaf.com.au website will feature an online store and video content, providing those who are unable to attend a virtual CIAF experience.

Tickets for our physical events are on sale now at Ticketlink.com.au.

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) has officially launched our Program 2021 (see here for more details)!

As such, tickets for our Opening Night Ceremony, Fashion Performance, Music in the Park, Symposium, and Comedy Up Late are on sale now. 

Purchase your tickets at Ticketlink.com.au (search 'CIAF').

Ecofiesta is an annual event that engages with the Cairns community to raise awareness of environmental sustainability. Organised by the Cairns Regional Council, this year (for the first time) the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) was invited to participate.