News

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF), and our valued Art Award sponsors, wish to congratulate the amazing recipients of this year’s CIAF Art Awards. In the following categories, they are:
 

Premier’s Award for Excellence
Sponsored by the Queensland Government

Paul Bong
Awarded for his full body of work for CIAF 2021
"The Gathering of Our Sacred Sites"
Print
40cm x 80cm

Art Centre Award
Sponsored by Cairns Regional Council

We are happy to bring you the official CIAF Online 2021 Program!

Offering a range of exclusive online content, via 2021.ciaf.com.au, as well as some special events here in Cairns, we know you will be impressed by the innovative and vibrant Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander art & cultures of Queensland.

You can find the Program on the left-hand side tab.

For more Program details, click here!

Of Spirit & Story: Sacred Sites & Places of Significance

2021's CIAF Fashion Performance is an exploration of cultural stories, connection to country, and truth-telling through a fashion and design lens. The collections are inspired by natural materials such as: plants, ochre, charcoal; as well as mining resources like copper, gold, silver, uranium, sand, and coal. 

Such colours and textures result in a spectacular display of wearable art, combined with compelling choreography, an eclectic soundtrack and, of course, fashion.

In partnership with Queensland Theatre, we'll be presenting a very special production of William Shakespeare's Othello, at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre! 

One of only a few physical events being offered this year in Cairns as part of CIAF Online 2021, the classic tale of jealousy, betrayal and revenge is thrillingly re-imagined by Jimi Bani and Jason Klarwein for its premiere 2021 season.
Tickets here: https://bit.ly/3lHAAIz

Photo: Jimi Bani and Andrew Buchanan in rehearsal, by Stephen Henry, courtesy of Queensland Theatre.

As part of CIAF Online 2021, in partnership with Freshwater Pictures, one of an exclusive few physical events will be the Far North Queensland premiere of Alick & Albert.

This powerful film showcases the unlikely friendship between His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and prominent artist, Alick Tipoti. Their friendship was forged through their mutual concern for the impacts of Climate Change on the world's oceans.

Secure your tickets to the prestigious event, on November 17, here: https://bit.ly/2YGCh0l

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!