General News
8 December, 2025
Cultural fair backed ‘til 2030
Council providing nearly $1m cash and in-kind support for CIAF over four years
THE future of one of Australia’s premier First Nations arts and cultural events has now been firmly secured through to 2030.
Cairns Regional Council has confirmed long-term support for the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) by approving a new four-year resource and performance agreement with the organisation, providing $890,000 in cash and in-kind assistance between 2026 and 2030.
The agreement ensures CIAF will continue to be presented at its much-celebrated home, the Tanks Arts Centre, following the successful 2025 return to the venue.
Cr Anna Middleton, whose division 7 includes the Tanks, told last week’s council meeting that with 8500 individuals attending the event, “I really felt it moving back to the Tanks was taking it back home”.
“I spoke to lots of people. People, they’d come up from down south, and some pretty impressive art collectors who were really enthusiastic about the way that the festival was being run,” she said.
“I think this is a hallmark of the area and now recognition of Indigenous art and I can only see under the new direction that it will continue to grow.
“The quality of the work was phenomenal this year and a special shout-out to the Tanks team.
“There was a lot of feedback from the organisers and CIAF board and organisation that the Tanks team were incredible for making the space work – and it really did.”
Cr Middleton said she believed it would expand.
“It brought an economic impact of over $4.5 million. I think that shows the interest, both within our own state and also internationally and throughout Australia, to come and see really high-quality Indigenous art fairs,” she said.
An independent economic assessment commissioned by Tourism and Events Queensland found the 2025 event generated more than $4.46m in direct and incremental expenditure for the Cairns region economy, reaffirming CIAF’s strong cultural and economic impact.
A council report said under the new agreement, CIAF would focus on strengthening operations, expanding digital capabilities, growing international partnerships and increasing revenue through sponsorships and grants.
