CIAF 2027 calls for artists as next chapter takes shape

Wednesday 16 September 2026

Returning to Gimuy/Cairns from 8–11 July 2027, CIAF is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) across four key areas of its 2027 program: the Art Fair Showcase, Artisans Showcase, Music and Dance Program and Art Class series.

The call follows a landmark 2026 CIAF, which brought together more than 450 artists, exhibitors, performers and presenters and delivered the largest Art Fair and Artisans Showcases in the event's history.

CIAF Artistic Director Teho Ropeyarn said the annual EOI process was about much more than programming an event, providing an important platform for Queensland First Nations artists to share culture, stories and contemporary creative practices with audiences from across Australia and internationally.

“CIAF is built on First Nations voices, stories and cultural expression, and each year we want to hear from artists and practitioners at different stages of their creative journey,” Mr Ropeyarn said.

“From emerging and independent artists finding a platform alongside established practitioners, to musicians and dancers sharing language, movement and song, and artists passing on knowledge through our Art Classes, these opportunities are about visibility, cultural continuity and creating pathways for First Nations artists.

“CIAF is also a place for truth-telling and cultural sovereignty, a platform where artists can tell their own stories, honour enduring cultural knowledge and explore new and contemporary forms of expression,” Mr Ropeyarn said.

CIAF 2027 Expressions of Interest now open include:

• Art Fair Showcase – for established and emerging artists presenting new, ambitious and innovative work across mediums including prints, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and new media.
• Artisans Showcase – for high-quality, culturally significant and contemporary-inspired handcrafted work celebrating Queensland First Nations cultural heritage, techniques and creative expression.
• Music and Dance Program – for performance-ready Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artists, musicians, groups and troupes with a strong cultural connection to Queensland, spanning contemporary music, traditional dance, cultural storytelling and multidisciplinary performance.
• Art Classes – for artists interested in facilitating immersive, hands-on workshops sharing creative practice, skills, techniques and cultural knowledge across a range of mediums.

All EOIs close 16 November.

The opening of 2027 EOIs coincides with the launch of CIAF's new website, which provides a refreshed digital home for artists, audiences and visitors and a central hub for EOI information and applications. It also marks the start of CIAF's next curatorial chapter, with the 2027 theme to be unveiled next month.

The theme will continue an evolving curatorial journey from Pay Attention! in 2025 through Reclamation & Regeneration in 2026, building on CIAF's commitment to First Nations storytelling, cultural knowledge and contemporary creative expression.

For further information, eligibility requirements and applications, visit our Opportunities page.