CIAF Art Fair Showcase Exhibitor Pack 2025

Art Fair Showcase Exhibitor Pack 2025: Please refer to link above to download the Exhibitor Pack for 2025.

Once you have read the Exhibitor Pack, please click on the Expression of Interest Here box above to fill in the application. Further information regarding eligibility is noted below.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to exhibit at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) in 2025, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Exhibiting artists, or artists represented by applicants (e.g. galleries, art centres, artist run innitiatives or collectives), either be a First Nations artists of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent with traditional connections to Queensland or First Nations and meet one of the following residency requirements: Reside in Queensland (QLD) or have familial ties to Queensland, meaning they have family connections or ancestral links to Indigenous communities in Queensland. CIAF is open to First Nations artists at any career stage, including emerging, mid-career, and established artists. Applicants should display a commitment to Indigenous cultural, traditional, and contemporary artistic expression, and the preservation of cultural practices through their work. The Art Fair is committed to being accessible and inclusive, ensuring that eligible artists of all abilities have equal opportunities to apply and participate.

EOI Process Rational

The Expression of Interest (EOI) serves as the initial step in the selection process, allowing us to auge interest in the art fair and gather key information about proposed exhibition concepts and artists. It provides an opportunity for exhibitors to outline their ideas and showcase the works they wish to present. Based on the information submitted, the CIAF curatorial committee will review each EOI and invite selected exhibitors to submit a more detailed proposal, along with additional images, for final consideration.

Selection Process

The selection process takes into account the proposal for CIAF, the curatorial depth and vision of each applicant’s exhibition program, and the artists they represent. The assessment will also consider the quality of the proposed artworks, past participation in art fairs, and projects undertaken by the exhibitor and its artists. Exhibitors are encouraged to present new bodies of work, curated solo exhibitions, group exhibitions, and work that showcase exceptional contemporary practice. EOIs will be shortlisted and prospective exhibitors will be invited to submit a final application and provide additional information.

Application Notification

Submitting an EOI does not guarantee acceptance into the CIAF Art Fair Showcase. Decisions are made  by the Selection Committee, under the guidance of the Artistic Director. CIAF Management also reserves the right to review all applications and proposals and may offer recommendations based on feedback from the Selection Committee.

Important Dates

CIAF Program Dates: 11 - 13 July, 2025

• Art Fair Showcase EOI Deadline: 31st January, 2025
• Shortlisting Notification: 4th February, 2025
• Application Release: 7th February, 2025
• Application Deadline: 21st February, 2025
• Final Selection Notification: 28th February, 2025

Payment Terms:
Booth Deposit (25%, Non-Refundable) Due: 28th March, 2025
Balance Payment Due: 9th May, 2025

Contact
For further information about applying for the CIAF Art Fair Showcase 2025, please contact:
Exhibitions & Development Manager
India Collins
M. + 61 0429 708 050
E. Exhibitions [at] ciaf.com.au

Image above: Kowanyama Art & Culture Centre