Ariu Panipan's Cassandra Adidi. Photo courtesy Ariu Panipan

The Festival celebrated the Indigenous cultures of the Pacific region in the areas of traditional and contemporary dance, music, theatre, literature, visual arts, craft and new media.

The Australia Council worked with state agencies, including Arts Queensland, to coordinate a national delegation of 30 people to represent Australia. Australia's delegation was led by artistic director Wesley Enoch.

The Festival of Pacific Arts attracted artists and delegates from 27 Pacific nations during its 10-day program.

With funding of $30,000 from Backing Indigenous Arts, seven Queensland artists joined the national delegation.

Participating Queensland artists included:

Pamela Croft-Warcon – Dr Pamela Croft-Warcon is a Kooma woman from the Uralarai people of south-west Queensland whose studio is at Keppel Sands on the Capricorn Coast.

Joey Laifoo – Joey Laifoo is a Torres Strait Islander painter and lino print artist whose works are inspired by his culture's respect for the sea.

Lisa Michl – Lisa Michl's earth tones and the intricate marks create paintings that are both delicate and bold; expressing creation stories, traditional practices and the everyday lifestyle that has been passed to her by her Kokoberrin elders from central west coast of Cape York Peninsula.

Ariu Panipan – Ariu Panipan Cultural Group is a Torres Strait Island-based community group widely renowned for its traditional costumes, craftsmanship, dance choreography, creativity, and dynamic performances.

William Kepa – William Kepa is a Torres Strait Islander drummer, bassist, guitarist, sound engineer and producer whose experience traverses a breadth of genres and stages.

Getano Bann – Getano Bann is a gifted singer, songwriter, storyteller and registered music therapist of Torres Strait Islander ancestry who has over 25 years experience as a professional performer and entertainer.

Kerrianne Cox – Kerrianne Cox is a renowned Aboriginal performing artist whose music has helped bring her home country of Beagle Bay in the remote North West Kimberley into hearts and minds of people world over.

For a complete list of all Australian artists visit the Australian Council Website

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