News

People spoke with their feet this week with sold out events throughout the city’s artistic and cultural hubs and huge numbers throughout the Art Fair and Market for Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s 10th anniversary.

With the 10th anniversary just weeks away, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) is taking stock of valuable support, recognising a long-term partnership with Sea Swift that has been elevated in 2019 to present this year’s Art Market, opening night fireworks and freighting services.

CIAF General Manager Vanessa Gillen said local companies like Sea Swift underpin the event with solid, unwavering support.

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s (CIAF) newly formed partnership with DesignCloud may have serious underpinnings but on the surface, is a whole lot of laughs for festival-goers attending Blak Comedy Up Late at Tanks Arts Centre on Friday 12 July.

Cairns Airport has pledged increased support for Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) in 2019 by securing the presenting partnership of this year’s  10th anniversary visual arts exhibition, My Yarn Now.

Cairns Airport CEO Norris Carter said this year’s sponsorship agreement has been redefined to enhance an already fruitful and long-established partnership which recognises the significance of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture and the role CIAF plays in boosting regional tourism.

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) has formed an exciting partnership with Far North Queensland’s stylish newcomer, luxury hotel, Riley, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort to deliver its most culturally-inspired and creative fashion performance to date.
 
Since its inaugural performance in 2013, CIAF’s fashion offering has evolved into one of the program’s most highly anticipated and well attended events which, in 2018, culminated in three sell-out shows at Tanks Arts Centre.
 

The partnership between Cairns Indigenous Art Fair and Skytrans is another step closer to materialising in a new uniform design for the regional airline after announcing the winner of its inaugural art prize.

Rockhampton artist Annie Abednego Gela’s artwork entitled, LAK PARU KWINZLAN (The Face of Queensland) was selected by judges CIAF Artistic Director Janina Harding and Skytrans CEO Michael Thinee from among 27 entries. 

Recognising the role Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) plays in promoting the state’s cultural tourism experiences, the Queensland Government has pledged continued support via its Tourism and Events Queensland's (TEQ) Destination Events Program.   

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones confirmed the event would receive funding support for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 iterations of the event.

"The Queensland Government supports events that drive visitation, increase expenditure and support local jobs," Ms Jones said.

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) is among the first recipients of new Queensland Government funding that will be used to further expand its already multi-dimensional arts and culture program.

Within the realm of New Commissions, one of three funding streams in the Queensland Government’s Backing Indigenous Arts – Performing Arts (BIA-PA) program, CIAF has received support to create Cultural Heights – a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performance piece that will be the first of its kind.