Community
20 January, 2025
City’s Indigenous arts fair returns to its roots
THE Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) has come full circle with plans to bring the 16th season back to the Tanks Arts Centre where it all began.
CIAF chief executive Dennis Stokes said the move was based on feedback from artists and communities who said they “weren’t feeling it”, and that it needed to get back to its roots.
“I think for us too, we need to go back to basics and really look at what we’re doing now, and where we’re going in the future and start to rebuild that again.”
Queensland’s largest First Nations arts and cultural celebration has had several homes, including the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, and more recently, the Cairns Convention Centre, with satellite events held across the city as the event grew.
“The convention centre team has been great, just wonderful. They did everything possible to make sure we fit in in there,” Mr Stokes said.
“But yes, I think the community want it to be more community-based again. One day we will get to that level where it’s going to be a bit corporate, but it’s not at this point.”
The Tanks, next to the Botanical Gardens, is a beloved space with three re-purposed World War II oil tanks used for concerts and exhibitions.
CIAF will be transforming the area into an “immersive, integrated First Nations celebration”, providing everything in the one space.
“We need to give people an experience,” Mr Stokes said. “Here, you experience nature as much as you experience art. If you’re not from the area, you will get something out of it just by looking around.”
For CIAF acting artistic director Teho Ropeyarn the Tanks venue will offer “lots of colour and lots of connectivity”.
“The professional exhibition will be positioned inside,” he said. “Tank 5 will be a multipurpose venue, so for the opening night, the art awards, announcements and some performances (including the popular fashion show), and then along the promenade outside we’ve got the art market as well as the Eats Street and other activities throughout the site.”
