Cairns Indigenous Art Fair

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF, pronounced ki-af) is an arts and cultural event in the northern Australian city of Cairns, that showcases art by Contemporary Indigenous Australian artists. Established in 2009, the art fair is the opening event of the Cairns Festival.

History

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF, pronounced KI-AF) was first held from 21 to 23 August 2009 at the Tanks Art Centre in Cairns, exceeding expectation by attracting more than 10,000 people over the three days of the fair.[1][2] Visitors came from throughout Australia, the United States, Europe, Korea and Japan. Almost one third of visitors to Cairns Indigenous Art Fair in 2009 identified as Aboriginal Australian and/or Torres Strait Islander.[3]

While most of the visitors (an estimated 70 per cent) attended to take advantage of the free cultural programming and to view the art work, the 36 exhibiting organisations sold artwork to a value of more than A$500,000 during the event.[4]

The art market was an initiative of the Queensland Government's A$11.93 million "Backing Indigenous Art" program, which committed to strengthening the Indigenous arts sector of Far North Queensland from production to market.[5]

Michael Snelling was the 2009 and 2010 artistic director of CIAF.[6]

Description

The fair brings together Indigenous art centres, commercial and public galleries, artist collectives, studios and arts organisations to sell and exhibit the art work of Queensland's recognised and leading emerging Indigenous Australian visual artists.[7]

The art fair is presented by the Queensland Government and is the opening event of Cairns Festival. The three-day event also features an academic symposium, traditional and contemporary dance and music program, artist talks and demonstrations, a children's art station and family art activities. It is the only dedicated Indigenous art market in Australia that exclusively profiles the art work of Queensland born or based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. The Art Fair includes both art centres and commercial galleries in a single location.[8]

CIAF adheres to the "Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct".[9]

Artists

In 2009, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair featured the work of more than 150 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists born or based in the Australian state of Queensland.[10] Exhibiting artists included Alick Tipoti, Dennis Nona, Billy Missi,[1] Judy Watson, Vernon Ah Kee, Richard Bell, Tony Albert, Joanne Currie Nalingu, Arone Meeks, Gordon Hookey, Ricardo Idagi, George Nona and Sally Gabori. A full listing of artists and exhibitors is available in the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair catalogue for 2009.[10]

Musicians and dancers who took part in Cairns Indigenous Art Fair in 2009 were Christine Anu, King Kadu, Seaman Dan, Will Kepa, the Aurukun Dancers and Songmen, Ariw Poenipan, Kulkal Baba (Blooded Feather) and the Baiwa Dance Company.[11]

In 2015, proppaNOW mounted an exhibition, Dark + Disturbing: Gordon Hookey for proppaNOW.[12] Dark + Disturbing is a curatorial project by artist Vernon Ah Kee.[13]

See also

References
  1. "Cairns Indigenous Art Fair". ArtsHub Australia. 8 September 2009. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  2. Australian Aboriginal Art News "Cairns Indigenous Art Fair a huge success" 27 August 2009.
  3. Arts Queensland: Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Partners Report, page 11. Queensland Government 2009.
  4. Arts Queensland: Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Partners Report, page 11. Queensland Government 2009.
  5. "Arts Queensland - Backing Indigenous Arts". Archived from the original on 22 March 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  6. The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts: "New Chair for Artbank advisory board"
  7. Arts Queensland: Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Partners Report. Queensland Government 2009.
  8. Queensland Government "Cairns Indigenous Art Fair returns in 2010", 3 December 2009
  9. "The Australia Council: "Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct", July 2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 May 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  10. "Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2009 Catalogue, Queensland Government 2009". Archived from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  11. "Festival Cairns 2009 Official Program" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  12. Watego, Leesa; Ah Kee, Vernon (9 August 2015). "Dark+Disturbing features Gordon Hookey at Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2015". Dark and Disturbing. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  13. "About". Dark and Disturbing. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
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