The inaugural Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, 21-23 August 2009, was a huge success. With 10,000 people visiting the event at Tanks Arts Centre over three days and more than $500,000 of art work sold the event exceeded all expectations.

CIAF Director Michael Snelling said the combination of quality art work, gallery-standard presentation, stunning location and the complementary performing arts and talks program had created an accessible, informative event for everyone from the curious visitor to the dedicated collector.

"CIAF came together as I had envisioned, with the performing arts program and rainforest environment giving a cultural context to the art work which is lost in traditional gallery settings," he said.

"Everyone benefited from this rich interpretation of art and culture"

Michael said he had been overwhelmed by the community's response to Art Fair, with Cairns locals and Indigenous people from the city and surrounding communities embracing the event.

"While a strong percentage of the audience were international and interstate collectors and tourists, most were visitors from Cairns and North Queensland - many of whom returned each day," he said.

"I had people come up to me at the end of Art Fair, visibly moved, who just wanted to say how proud they were that Cairns had this event."

Alcaston Gallery Director Beverly Knight, also National President of the Australian Commercial Galleries Association, said CIAF had met her best-case scenario for sales, attendance and organisation.

Arts Queensland will be making an announcement later this year on the date for the second CIAF.

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair