This year the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) is set to bring Queensland's largest and most beloved First Nations arts and cultural celebration home.
Announcing the move ahead of Cairns Indigenous Art Fair's (CIAF's) 16th annual season, scheduled for July, CIAF chief executive officer Dennis Stokes highlighted the compelling combination of history and heritage offered by the venue for 2025; Tanks Arts Centre.
"We are excited to announce our return to Tanks Arts Centre and the many opportunities it affords, not the least of which is the convenience of everything in one place," he said.
According to Mr Stokes, the city's popular arts and cultural precinct will be transformed into an immersive and integrative First Nations celebration, encouraging festival goers to drop in and wander.
"With our visual art exhibitions, live music, cultural dance and fashion performances housed within the three repurposed World War II oil tanks, the expansive outdoors activated by curated food stalls, art markets, workshops, conversations, and more, the Tanks Arts Centre is poised to offer visitors an unforgettable experience," he said.
The 2025 program begins on Thursday the 10th of July, with an opening event offering guests a first look at the Art Fair exhibition in a lively indoor/outdoor rainforest setting.
The official programming will commence on Friday the 11th of July, with the opening of the Art Fair and close on Sunday the 13th of July.
CIAF patron Henrietta Fourmile Marrie AO shared her excitement about the fair's return to Tanks Arts Centre.
"CIAF has always celebrated the richness and diversity of Queensland's distinct and diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands arts and culture. Returning to the Tanks Arts Centre brings us back to the heart of this journey, where the foundation for our success was built," she said.
"The venue's rich history and exquisite rainforest setting perfectly complement the stories and traditions we aim as First Nations custodians and artists to share with audiences."
CIAF acting artistic director Teho Ropeyarn and CIAF chief executive officer Dennis Stokes announcing the event's return to Tanks
Arts Centre in 2025. (Image: supplied)
Since launching in 2009, CIAF has become one of Australia's premier Indigenous art fairs, attracting thousands of visitors and providing a platform for artists to connect with national and international audiences.
CIAF's acting artistic director, Teho Ropeyarn, said this year's theme, Pay Attention!, is a call to action for artists who promise to create an evocative and contemporary thread connecting visual and performing arts, educational talks, site activations, cultural entertainment and activities.
"After the Voice Referendum in 2023, Pay Attention! challenges us to remain vigilant about the social, political, and cultural issues impacting First Nations communities at a profound time in our collective history," he said.
A significant national cultural calendar event, CIAF also presents the Art Fair, Art Market, Fashion Performance, Music in the Park, Symposium, and more each year.
With expressions of interest for the Art Fair Showcase and Fashion Design events now open, First Nations creatives are being encouraged to come forward and participate in the annual event.
CIAF 2025 will be held at the Tanks Arts Centre from Friday, July 11th, to Sunday, July 13th. Program details and ticket information will be announced in the coming months.
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