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Arts and culture on show at Cairns Indigenous Art Fair

This year’s Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) has kicked off, showcasing the arts of Queensland’s First Nations peoples to a national and international audience.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair was one the State’s most significant cultural tourism events.

“The Fair welcomes visitors to engage with a fantastic program of visual art, traditional and contemporary music and dance, fashion, theatre, storytelling and children’s activities,” Ms Enoch said.

“CIAF is the place to be to experience the powerful art and culture of Far North Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, set amongst the tropical backdrop of one of our State’s most stunning regions.

“The work of Far North Queensland’s network of Indigenous Art Centres is at the heart of CIAF, helping to generate more than $6 million in art sales since its inception in 2009.

“CIAF has provided an important platform for this artwork. In 2017, CIAF artwork was acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art and Logan City Council.”

Minister Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government continued to support CIAF through Backing Indigenous Arts; a bold initiative to build a sustainable and ethical Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts industry in Far North Queensland.

“CIAF is now firmly established as one of Queensland’s significant cultural tourism events, which attracted more than 50,000 visitors last year,” Ms Enoch said.

“This year’s Fair will continue to be a launchpad for the region’s visual and performing arts.

“New additions for CIAF this year include outdoor film festival Pitchas After Dark, and international collaborations which will expand the creative and artistic horizons for Queensland artists and audiences.

“These global collaborations pair Queensland artists with South African artists in the Continental Drift from Blak to Black exhibition at Cairns Art Gallery, and Queensland dancers from Miriki Performing Arts joining with the Northern Pomo Tribe from the United States in Bayal Kaymanen (Dancing Smoke).”

Minister Enoch said CIAF was also presenting the world premiere of JUTE Theatre’s Bukal – The Story of Henrietta Marrie, based on the life of Australia’s first Indigenous member of the United Nations.

“The production will then tour to Queensland schools and remote communities, with touring support from the Palaszczuk Government,” Ms Enoch said.

“The CIAF Art Awards, sponsored by the Palaszczuk Government, promote Indigenous artists with this year’s prize total of $50,000 across six categories including the Premier’s Award for Excellence to recognise the most outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art work and nurture the winning artist’s career.”

For more information, visit: https://ciaf.com.au/