ABOUT THE ART FAIR
Bilan gudan gimuy (welcome to Cairns) from Traditional Owners the Yidinji people
Yidinji minjan njundu bama wabil wawal gimuy jabu bama bidjuga.
(Yidinji people welcome you to our country Cairns to look at the art and traditions of people from afar).
In 2OO9, 1O,OOO people came to the inaugural Cairns Indigenous Art Fair and left with an art work and memories of a unique event that merged an art market with a celebration of Indigenous culture.
An initiative of the Queensland Government, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair is committed to growing the market for Queensland Indigenous art work and providing artists with a dedicated forum at which to sell and showcase their art to local, national and international collectors and arts enthusiasts.
Participation in CIAF is by invitation only and in 2009, more than 35 galleries, Indigenous art centres, artist collectives and studios, arts publications and other organisations sold and exhibited the work of over 150 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists born or based in Queensland.
The inaugural event was an exceptional success, attracting strong crowds and totaling art work sales in excess of $500,000. Best of all visitors so enjoyed their experience that 75% of those surveyed rated the Art Fair as 'excellent' with the remaining 25% said it was 'good'.
The Art Fair's focus on recreating the interrelationship between the visual and performing arts in traditional Indigenous culture also proved a hit with visitors. The performance program of dance and music, along with the artists talks and demonstrations, symposium and children's art station transformed the event from a traditional art market into a rich experience of Queensland Indigenous art and culture.
In 2010 we invite you to come along and share the experience.