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Recognising the role Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) plays in promoting the state’s cultural tourism experiences, the Queensland Government has pledged continued support via its Tourism and Events Queensland’s (TEQ) Destination Events Program.   

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones confirmed the event would receive funding support for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 iterations of the event.

“The Queensland Government supports events that drive visitation, increase expenditure and support local jobs,” Ms Jones said.

“CIAF provides a unique insight into Queensland’s rich and diverse Indigenous culture through visual and performing arts. It attracted more than 11,000 visitors to the Cairns region in 2018 – a significant boost for the local economy.”

CIAF General Manager Vanessa Gillen said TEQ’s partnership has been invaluable to date and her team is wholly committed to build on past marketing successes while realising long-term communications objectives.

“Ongoing funding will provide the opportunity to host visiting journalists which will provide ‘money-can’t-buy’ publicity that gets under the surface of what our event is really about – be it our picturesque host city of Cairns and importantly, CIAF’s talented artists who create and show their work, tell their stories and share their First Nations culture in a joyful environment.”

Since 2009 CIAF has generated strong outcomes locally and nationally which will be celebrated during this year’s 10th anniversary held in Cairns between Thursday 11 and Sunday 14 July 2019.

“In creating our decade anniversary program, we paused to reflect on the journey so far and results achieved.

“From a statistical point of view CIAF’s data speaks volumes; in the past years combined CIAF has attracted approximately 280,000 visitors, provided a platform for over 1,600 Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, generated more than $6.8 million in Queensland Indigenous art sales while boosting the state’s economy by approximately $22 million.

“We are feeling so very optimistic about our future and with the support of TEQ we look forward to telling the world, CIAF is here and everyone is welcome,” Ms Gillen said.