CIAF 2024 Program Highlights
The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair will celebrate an extraordinary journey of evolution and growth when the event's 15th anniversary is staged at venues across the city this July, featuring hundreds of First Nations artists, performers, fashion designers, and creatives.
See the highlights below...
CIAF 2024 THEME
CIAF 2024's theme ‘Country Speaking’ provides an opportunity for Country to be heard. Since time immemorial, First Nation Peoples have lived in close relationship with Country. Country in turn speaks to its wellbeing; it can be heard in a whisper of the changing wind indicating the arrival of a new season, to the raging violence of rising tides reclaiming coastlines. Country speaks, always.
Changing climate is affecting human kind. It impacts the livelihoods of First Nations people from traditional food supply to encroaching tidal lines on Country. The constant voice of Country has been communicated continually. CIAF’s 2023 theme will provide insight into what Country is speaking to its custodians. Country is always speaking; the question is, are we listening?
Country Speaking is the overarching theme connecting all aspects of the CIAF 2024 Program.
BLAKTIVATION
JULY 13
Shields Street Esplanade to Lake Street, Cairns City
FREE EVENT
BLAKtivation is set in the Indigenous landscape architecturally designed street scape of Shields Street between the Esplanade and Lake Street.
Presenting a family friendly, accessible arts and cultural event activating Shields Street, with Indigenous dance performances, digital art projections, sculptural art installations, story tellers and poets
BLAKtivation bring Indigenous culture to the heart of Cairns CBD and Esplanade. It is a prelude to CIAF 2024 presenting creative organisation collaborations and individual performances.
Participating Hoteliers will have Indigenous artworks exhibited in the foyers as part of BLAKtivation setting the scene for visitors and locals that CIAF is approaching.
Blaktivation will be followed by Music on the Lawn, a CIAF Partner by Cairns Regional Council at the Cairns Court House Lawns featuring live music by Indigenous musicians until 9pm.
CIAF 2024 OPENING NIGHT PARTY
JULY 25
Cairns Convention Centre
CIAF’s 15th year celebration kicks off with Traditional Owner cultural dances and live music performances.
Guests will be treated to the simultaneous opening of the Art Fair and Art Market.
This year’s Art Fair will present artworks inspired by this year’s theme Country Speaking with the major CIAF Art Award presentations.
CIAF 2024 ART FAIR AND ART MARKET
JULY 25 - 28
Cairns Convention Centre
FREE EVENT
Inspired by this year’s theme Country Speaking, the CIAF 2024 Art Fair showcases works from Queensland’s established and emerging Indigenous Art Centers, Queensland commercial galleries and independent Indigenous artists.
You can also enjoy the bustling CIAF Art Market inside the CIAF pavilion with over 55 stalls showcasing and selling art, craft and design works by Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centers, artists and designers. Purchase unique artist maker, artworks, craft and jewelry products directly from the artists and entrepreneurs who create the work.
During the Art Fair and Art Market, you'll also be treated to public performances, artist talks and Master Classes.
CIAF FASHION PERFORMANCE: LIGHT THE FIRE
JULY 25 - 26
Tank 3, Tanks Arts Centre
Fire connects Indigenous people to the land. It has a symbolic significance.
Since time immemorial, we have been using fire to hunt animals, maintain ecosystems and manage the land. Fire was used to clear pathways, to encourage new growth, native foods and flora to grow, attract animals, hunting and gathering. We used it to gain better access to Country, so it cleared the underbrush to prevent lightning and wildfires from consuming the land.
We need to maintain cultural responsibilities as part of cultural management.
Caring for Country is caring for our land, are we listening?
CIAF SYMPOSIUM
JULY 26 - 27
Bulmba Ja Theatre
Country in a western sense can be described an area of land that has its own government or land that is not in towns. Country with a capital ‘C’ as used by First Nations people embodies the deep connection to the land, waters, skies and seas within their Nation and Clans. It is also much more. It encompasses the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental relationship to Country.
Country is inclusive of the tangible living and breathing landscapes and the animals nourished by it. The ancient songlines of 65,000 years of ancestral connections deepen First Nation People’s relationship with Country which cannot always be seen but is intangible. CIAF 2024 Symposium seeks to expound and educate towards a deeper understanding of Country speaking.
Presenting feature speakers and conversation panels, CIAF Symposium will explore the expression of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural expressions that spans across western defined disciplines of urban design, cultural practice, performance, art and science from practitioners.
NO SHAME IN MY GAME – BARKAA & SIMONE STACEY
JULY 27
Tank 5, Tanks Arts Centre
Proudly supported by CIAF in partnership with WOW Australia
CIAF’s Saturday night performance stars Barkaa, one of Australia’s most exciting new hip hop artists supported by Simone Stacey with young performers of the ‘No Shame in my Game’ music development program.
Expect powerful and unapologetic BLAK narratives by some of our most talented young female performers across hip hop, DJ and vocals.
NOT SELLING CAKES: Celebrating CIAF’s 15th Year Anniversary
JULY 5 - 28
Tank 4, Tanks Arts Centre
FREE EVENT
The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2024 with a signature exhibition that pays homage to the unique talents of CIAF artists and their contributions to the Queensland Indigenous art movement since its first iteration in 2009.
This significant milestone is a testament to the enduring legacy of Indigenous art and the cultural vibrancy of First Nations communities in Queensland, celebrating the past, present, and future of Indigenous artistic and cultural expression. The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair continues to be a beacon for preserving and promoting the unique artistic traditions and creating lasting legacies.
Responding to the number ‘15’ as a legacy marker, CIAF invited 15 arts professionals to provide input into the development of the exhibition in celebration of art, culture, and community. The exhibition title “Not Selling Cakes” is a statement by the late Billy Missi which was first used to title the landmark 2006 report that investigated issues affecting the sustainability of Indigenous art centres in Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait, a key factor in the launch of CIAF in 2009.
Join us at the exhibition party at Tank 5 on Friday, July 26.
PLUS MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!
Keep an eye on CIAF socials for more details and announcements to come, including satellite exhibitions at Cairns Art Gallery, Northsite, Cairns Museum and Cairns Courthouse Gallery.