- Increased Palaszczuk Government investment is supporting the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) with $1 million a year over the next four years.
- This includes new investment of $1.6 million for CIAF over four years to grow the event ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
- CIAF showcases First Nations culture, knowledge, arts and artists and its growth will further build the profile of Queensland’s First Nations arts sector and generate increased economic benefits and cultural tourism outcomes.
A new additional investment of $400,000 per annum over four years is supporting CIAF to realise its growth ambition, secure its position on the global stage, and deliver economic and cultural benefits for Queensland ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This uplift builds on the current $600,000 per year core investment through the Backing Indigenous Arts initiative and will support CIAF to grow, expand its reach, and deliver job creation and new works, exhibitions and arts experiences that connect with the community and celebrate Queensland cultures on the global stage.
The record attendance and art sales achieved at CIAF 2022 demonstrates the strong demand for First Nation arts and highlights the many opportunities that Brisbane 2032 presents in celebrating First Nations cultures on an international scale.
Additionally, in 2023, CIAF will also receive project funding to support two new projects and two industry placements.
CIAF will develop the Coconut Leaf Project, a cross-cultural community project celebrating Torres Strait Islander craft and weaving with funding of $70,000 through the First Nations Commissioning Fund.
CIAF will also present Urban BLAKtivation, a family friendly, accessible arts and cultural event activating the Cairns CBD with Indigenous performance, art installation, story tellers and poets, with funding of $70,000 through the Queensland Arts Showcase Program.
CIAF will employ an event and exhibition manager and an arts worker with additional funding of $120,000 for industry placements to deliver these projects.
Industry placements, a new initiative integrated across arts funding programs, have been introduced to address skills gaps and to expand the scale and capacity of the creative workforce ahead of Brisbane 2032.
Quotes attributable to the Minister:
“CIAF has achieved great success since its establishment in 2009, and it is now time for the organisation to set its sights on the future.
“This investment will grow CIAF ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Brisbane 2032 will be a landmark celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultures across Queensland, enabling millions of visitors to experience the power and richness of First Nations arts and cultures.
“Elevating First Nations arts is a priority of Creative Together 10-year Road for Arts Culture and Creativity in Queensland, and CIAF plays a key role in connecting artists to markets and delivering vibrant cultural tourism outcomes.”
Quotes attributable to Michael Healy MP:
“Our investment will support CIAF to achieve its vision to grow the sale and distribution of First Nations art from Queensland and expand its profile across the state and the nation.
“The Government’s additional financial support will enable CIAF to foster and strengthen key philanthropic partnerships and collaborations to further position the event as one of Australia’s major platforms to tell First Nations stories and share cultural knowledge.
“This funding will also see CIAF enhancing its digital focus, broadening engagement, and attracting even more visitors to our region to purchase the extraordinary art of Queensland’s First Nations artists.”
Quotes attributable to Francoise Lane, Artistic Director, Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair:
“The CIAF Board and Executive acknowledge and thank the Queensland Government for this very special CIAF Growth Uplift funding package.
“It is the natural business progression for CIAF to turn our attention toward philanthropic partnerships development to complement existing Government and corporate partnership engagement as CIAF firmly positions itself as Australia’s Premier Indigenous Arts Fair.”
Explainer/fast fact and or further information:
- The 2023 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair will be presented at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13 – 16 July 2023.
- The 2022 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair recorded attendances of more than 60,000, exceeding its previous record of 45,410 visitors in 2019.
- Art sales at CIAF 2022 exceeded the $1 million mark for the first time with a sales figure of $1,015,029, surpassing the previous record of $924,000, also set in 2019
- Investment in CIAF aligns with the Queensland Government’s Creative Together 2020-2030 – A 10-year Roadmap for arts, culture, and creativity in Queensland:
- Elevate First Nations arts
- Tell Queensland stories.
- Embrace Brisbane 2032 across Queensland
