A dedicated Elders Lounge will be introduced at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) 2026, with 'Welcome Blak Home' by Kerry Klimm offering a welcoming, culturally grounded space for connection, reflection and rest.
Hosted by Flashblak founder, Guguu Yalanji and Koko Lamalama woman Kerry Klimm, whose practice is grounded in storytelling, connection and the sharing of knowledge, Welcome Blak Home invites Elders to step into a space designed to feel like home — a kitchen, dining room and lounge where they can relax, share a cuppa, enjoy a feed and yarn together.
Running daily from 12 pm to 2 pm from Friday to Sunday, the Elders Lounge will honour the central role Elders play in community, culture and continuity, offering a place of comfort, recognition and joy within the busy festival environment.
Klimm said the concept builds on her previous work creating spaces for conversation and connection, including the popular Spill the Tea masterclasses presented at CIAF 2025.
“Welcome Blak Home is about creating a space where our Elders feel comfortable, valued and at ease — like they are walking into their own home,” said Klimm.
“It’s a place to sit, yarn, laugh, remember and connect. A place to say thank you for everything our Elders have done and continue to do for our communities.”
The space will be styled with tea sets, mugs, tablecloths, throws and cushions, alongside an old turntable playing classic vinyls, all infused with Flashblak’s signature expression of Blak love, joy and cultural strength.
Klimm has also created a bespoke vinyl album especially for the space, featuring songs and artists deeply connected to cultural memory and community life.
“Music is integral to our cultural survival and expression, from the Mission song, The Irex, to Uncle Charlie (Pride) and Mop & The Dropouts,” she said.
“I have created a special album that captures those musical memories for our Elders, that hopefully will also get them up dancing too.”
More than a physical space, Welcome Blak Home will also serve as a living archive, with Elders invited to record their memories, reflections and stories in a dedicated book that will continue to grow over time.
In addition, Yidinji Elders will engage children through storytelling and guided cultural arts and crafts sessions inspired by ancestral stories from Yidinji Country.
CIAF Artistic Director Teho Ropeyarn said the introduction of the Elders Lounge reflects CIAF’s ongoing commitment to cultural respect and community connection.
“Our Elders are at the heart of everything we do.
“This space acknowledges their leadership, their knowledge and their enduring contribution to culture and community, while offering a moment of rest and connection within the energy of the Art Fair,” he said.
Welcome Blak Home will operate daily from 12 pm to 2 pm, Friday to Sunday, as part of the CIAF 2026 program.
CIAF 2026: At a Glance
Theme: Reclamation & Regeneration
Dates: 9–12 July 2026
Location: Tanks Arts Centre and satellite venues across Gimuy/Cairns
Images: Flashblak founder Guguu Yalanji and Koko Lamalama woman Kerry Klimm (right) with Professor Henrietta Marrie AM at Kerry's CIAF 2025 Art Fair Showcase booth. Photograph: Studio Sol by Alicia Jade. Klimm’s front cover artwork for her ‘vinyl’ collating the deadly old songs, providing a rich and sensory addition to the Elders Lounge at CIAF 2026.
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