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EXTRA: Vibrant return of Cairns Indigenous Art Fair
EXTRA: THE WORLD’s biggest artistic and cultural celebration of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, the fifth annual Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) on July 24-27, is set to give the Tropical North Queensland region a tourism boost.
CIAF offers multi-dimensional line up of new and established events spanning art exhibitions, music, dance and fashion performances and cultural activities along with a dynamic art market featuring art centres and galleries from across Queensland and interstate.
Arts Minister Ian Walker said 2014 was a significant milestone for CIAF with the event being managed independently by CIAF Limited and changing dates to be the first major art fair for the year.
“The Queensland Government is looking forward to seeing CIAF continue to grow and to be a cultural tourism drawcard for the Cairns region, having generated more than $5.6 million in tourism expenditure to date,” Mr Walker said.
CIAF’s chief executive office, Alison Copley said the event was significant to Cairns as a destination and particularly the cultural heritage and livelihoods of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander artists.
“Since its establishment in 2009, CIAF has been the only art fair in Australia to sell and showcase art by members of Queensland’s Indigenous communities,” Ms Copley said. “Our event is committed to providing an ethical marketplace for the sale and purchase of Indigenous art while nurturing the career development of artists.”
According to Ms Copley, CIAF’s credentials are impressive. To date, attendance figures have exceeded 65,000 visitors, there has been participation by more than 600 Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and performers and over $2.4 million generated in direct sales of art works.
“This year will see CIAF welcome 13 Indigenous Art Centres from across Queensland, as well as high end commercial galleries from Melbourne such as Alcaston Gallery,” she said.
“In a first for CIAF, two galleries from will Sydney present works from established Queensland Indigenous artists: Martin Browne Contemporary with Mavis Ngallametta and Michael Reid Gallery with Christian Thompson.”
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