Entertainment
27 November, 2023
Igniting local creatives
FIRST Nations artists and creatives living in or holding a strong connection to Queensland have two weeks to submit their Expressions of Interest (EOI) to participate in Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s (CIAF) exciting new development program, Catapult.
The EOI phase closes on Friday, December 8 2023.
Designed to ignite the crafts and careers of Queensland’s First Nations independent emerging, mid-year and established artists, Catapult is a new, two-part exhibition and professional development program offering tailored support that will lead to exhibiting work within CIAF’s 2024 Art Fair.
According to CIAF’s Artistic Director Francoise Lane, Catapult is a first for the organisation.
“Without Queensland’s First Nations arts and cultural practitioners, CIAF is nothing. As we approach our 15th anniversary, we look to the milestone with the future in mind.
“Catapult is what its name implies, a platform for artists to leverage a whole range of opportunities from exhibition and profile building to expanding and developing their professional practice.
“Catapult is just the first in a series of strategic development programs and forms part of an ambitious and transformative four-year plan.
“CIAF is, and has always been, much more than an annual event that showcases the incredible talent and shares the stories of First Nations people.
“Taking a step back, it is a progressive movement geared towards reconciliation and understanding through the creative employment, economic participation, and delivery of high-quality arts experiences,” Ms Lane said.
In addition to Catapult, CIAF has issued a second EOI for Art Fair exhibitors that also closes on Friday, 8 December.
This EOI is for artists currently working on and planning to exhibit work at CIAF 2024.
CIAF’s EOI phase for its exciting new fashion industry development program, BLOOM, closed earlier this month, with successful participants scheduled to be announced in the coming weeks and further EOI opportunities.
To view and complete the EOIs for CATAPULT and Art Fair Exhibitor, which closes on Friday, 8 December 2023, visit www.ciaf.com.au
The Queensland Government supports these programs through Arts Queensland.
The theme for CIAF 2024 is “Country Speaking” and will be held from July 25-28 2024.
