CIAF announces 2025 program, theme

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair has ‘gone back to its roots’ for the 16th annual festival, to be held at the Tanks Arts Centre later this year. See the program.

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair will return to the Tanks Arts Centre this year, where the event was officially launched on Friday. Gillyba Ambrum models a bespoke dress by designer Lynelle Flinders, while Erub Island artist Dr Ken Thaiday Senior shows CIAF artistic director Theo Ropeyarn has world renowned Torres Strait Island headdresses. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair has gone back to its roots for the 16th annual festival to be held at the Tanks Arts Centre later this year.

CIAF will return to Edge Hill for three jam-packed days from July 10 to 13, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, culture and heritage.

The festival, will take place across three days, and include a line-up of free and ticketed events.

Featuring more than 600 visual artists and 150 performers, CIAF’s 2025 program spans visual and performing arts, masterclasses, cultural demonstrations, talks, awards, fashion, food and more in events and activations that include opening night, Art Fair showcase, artist talks, guided tours, art awards, masterclasses, cultural demonstrations and Closing Ceremony.

CIAF chief executive Dennis Stokes said the festival had come full circle, moving from the Cairns Convention Centre to the Tanks Arts Centre, where the festival began.

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CAIF) CEO Dennis Stokes said the popular annual festival would return ‘to its roots’ at the Tanks Arts Centre this year. Picture Emily Barker.

“It’s more community based this year, it’s going back to its roots,” Mr Stokes said.

“The Convention Centre were really great to us, we had a good relationship, but judging by what the community wanted, it was a huge consensus to come back to the Tanks and we worked very hard to make sure that happens this year.”

Set against the tropical rainforest backdrop, Mr Stokes said the location would let attendees “get back to nature”.

“You’re going to be walking through beautiful gardens to get to each of each event and each gallery, so I think that’s really important, and, you know, you can just sit anywhere on the grass and have some beautiful food and, and enjoy the artwork,” he said.

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair will return to the Tanks Arts Centre this year, where the event was officially launched on Friday. Erub Island artist Dr Ken Thaiday Senior shows CIAF artistic director Theo Ropeyarn has world renowned Torres Strait Island headdresses, while Gillyba Ambrum models a bespoke dress by designer Lynelle Flinders. Picture: Brendan Radke

CIAF artistic director Teho Ropeyarn announced this year’s theme ‘Pay Attention!’ Inspired by Tony Albert’s evocative print work (Pay Attention, 2011).

“Following the 2023 Voice Referendum, Pay Attention! is a timely and urgent prompt to remain vigilant about the realities First Nations people continue to face,” Mr Ropeyarn said.

He said that choosing an evocative and thought-provoking theme which married contemporary and traditional sensibilities and connotations, would spark artistic response and interest from art collectors and curators across Australia and beyond.

“Our artists will use their creative voices to document, challenge, and inspire, ensuring that today’s messages become tomorrow’s narratives,” he said.

Originally published as CIAF announces 2025 program, theme