Waterfront digs for Indigenous art

The 2011 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair has a new home — the waterfront Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal.

The surrounding precinct has two major public art works by Indigenous artists Dennis Nona and Thanakupi, the latter a patron of the fair.

The first two fairs were held at Tanks Arts Centre, owned and managed by Cairns Regional Council.

They were guided by  Michael Snelling, the event's founding artistic director. This year, he has handed the reins to Indigenous artist Avril Quaill (see main story).

Over 2009 and 2010, the fair attracted more than 20,000 people and sold more than $1.2 million of art work to become Australia's premier Indigenous art fair.

This year's event will include an art fair, major exhibition, symposium, traditional and contemporary music and dance and a children’s art program.

CIAF is a major initiative of the state government's Backing Indigenous Arts program, delivered by Arts Queensland.

More information on Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.

Palm sponsorship

The Government Champion for the Palm Island Community, Linda Apelt, arranged $10,000 to support Aboriginal artists and performers with professional development, training and employment opportunities and to enable them to attend the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.

Ms Apelt is Director-General of the Department of Communities, which has also contributed $60,000 as the fair’s traditional culture sponsor.