From the Gold Coast to the Torres Strait, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2023 showcases Queensland’s First Peoples’ in biggest and most culturally immersive event to date.
With eyes set firmly on future growth and a global stage, CIAF, Queensland’s most significant First Nations’ cultural celebration, has launched its biggest and most culturally immersive program to be delivered across four days, from Thursday 13 July 2023 to Sunday 16 July 2023.
Tickets to a range of exciting CIAF events are now on sale at the new CIAF ticketing hub on ciaf.com.au, including the Opening Night Party at Cairns Convention Centre, 10th anniversary Fashion Performance at Tanks Arts Centre and a special CIAF music concert at Munro Martin Parklands.
In 2023 CIAF’s program highlights include an exhibition of large-scale, hand-woven artefacts, a decade anniversary fashion performance, a new look, two-day symposium, outdoor music festival with national, headline acts, more than 300 pieces of visual art showcasing 600 of Queensland’s most accomplished and collectible Indigenous artists, a public program of cross-cultural sharing, master classes, art market, children’s art, and craft hub and more.
On the back of its most successful season in 2022, CIAF will deliver its most expansive and multi-layered program to date, drawing on the talent and resources of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and artists to deliver a mostly free and ticketed program bookended by celebration; the much-loved Opening Night Party and CIAF Art Awards on Thursday 13 July 2023 and Closing Ceremony on Sunday 16th July 2023.
Kickstarting CIAF’s 14th season on Saturday 1 July 2023, the programming has been extended by two weeks with Urban BLAKtivation, a new, lively, and free, First Nations event that will enliven the CBD with arts and culture spanning music, dance, storytelling, and poetry recitals between 4.30pm and 8pm.
In accord with CIAF’s annual tradition, the collective, artistic response for 2023 will be shaped by the Artistic Director Francoise Lane’s curatorial theme, Weaving our Future: Claiming our Sovereignty.
Crafted to both inspire and harness the sentiments of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists at a time in which a First Nations voice is being proposed to drive change across Australia, Ms Lane said the theme will provide a rich, cultural thread that connects and resonates throughout the Art Fair, Coconut Leaf Project, Woven Fashion Performance and Symposium.
“Art is a form of expression that raises the breadth of experiences, issues, and commentary and when positioned within the context of CIAF, becomes a meeting place for truth telling, knowledge sharing and cultural exchange - an intrinsic representation and artistic expression of two very distinct and diverse cultures – past, present, and future,” Ms Lane said.
According to Ms Lane, CIAF 2023 lifts programming to a new and unprecedented level and with future growth in mind blends much-loved favourites with fresh newcomers that will capture the attention and imaginations of visitors and deliver a meaningful experience.
“Urban BLAKtivation is just the first in a series of signature events CIAF is planning to roll out in future years,” Ms Lane said.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said CIAF 2023 would be an incredible showcase and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island art and culture from across Queensland.
“This year’s ambitious and exciting program is set to further strengthen CIAF’s reputation for rich and diverse cultural experiences that drive cultural tourism, reinforces its important role in connecting artists to markets, and advances the journey towards a more inclusive future.
“The Queensland Government has supported CIAF from the beginning and recently announced a $1.2 million uplift over four years, to help the festival realise its growth ambitions ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Minister Enoch said.
“New project and industry placement funding of $260,000 is also supporting CIAF 2023 program highlights: Coconut Leaf Project celebrating Torres Strait Islander craft and weaving, and family friendly event Urban BLAKtivation, and enabling the employment and skills development of two First Nations arts workers within CIAF.
“The record attendance and art sales achieved at CIAF 2022 clearly shows the strong demand for and quality of First Nation arts in Queensland, and I look forward to CIAF’s continued success in 2023.”
