CIAF calls for support to open the Blue Highway to Hong Kong
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair is calling on Far North Queenslanders to help Queensland First Nations artists and their work reach Hong Kong, with a 12-hour fundraising appeal on Thursday, 22 October, aimed at turning international connections into opportunities.
CIAF Artistic Director Teho Ropeyarn with Art Central Head of VIP Relations Wenwen Liu and CIAF Chair Dr Bianca Beetson AM, at CIAF 2026. Photograph: Rikaela Rusch.
As part of AusArt Day, Creative Australia’s national fundraising initiative for artists and arts organisations, CIAF aims to raise $15,000 to cover travel, freight and presentation costs for international opportunities, including those being developed around Art Central Hong Kong (24 – 28 March 2027), an international contemporary art fair held during Hong Kong Art Week.
Called The Blue Highway, the campaign draws on First Nations peoples’ enduring relationships with Sea Country and on its role in trade and cultural connection. It brings an international focus to CIAF’s 2027 theme, Superhighway: Country Sings to Stars Dancing, which explores living networks that connect Country, seas and skies.
The appeal follows a CIAF visit to Hong Kong earlier this year, supported by the CAGES Foundation to build relationships with galleries, collectors and curators. Those connections continued when an Art Central representative visited CIAF in Gimuy/Cairns in July.
The next step is helping artists and their work make the crossing.
“We have begun building the relationships. Now we’re asking our community to help us take the next step,” CIAF’s Artistic Director Teho Ropeyarn said.
“Getting artwork overseas takes freight, travel and resources to present it properly. This appeal is about helping Queensland First Nations artists be seen, heard and connected with people who could support the next stage of their careers.”
In a letter supporting CIAF’s fundraising campaign proposal, Art Central Fair Director Corey Andrew Barr expressed interest in continuing discussions on collaboration and exchange, including connections with audiences and networks in Hong Kong and across the wider region.
AusArt Day is Creative Australia’s national fundraising initiative, bringing artists and arts organisations together on Thursday, 22 October 2026 to raise support for their creative work.
Support CIAF’s $15,000 fundraising target for its 12-hour AusArt Day appeal. Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible.
WHAT IS AUSART DAY?
Inviting people from across the country to support musicians, artists and cultural organisations in their local communities, AusArt Day is a Creative Australia initiative launched in October 2025.
The inaugural fundraising campaign saw more than 300 artists and arts organisations nationwide rally support for creativity.