MEDIA INFORMATION
YARRABAH FOCUS AT THIS YEAR’S ART FAIR
Some of the creative wares produced by the talented team of artists at Yarrabah Arts
and Cultural Precinct in readiness for CIAF
11 June, 2014. As part of a strategy to transform its arts and cultural centre
and Menmuny Museum into a vibrant and productive precinct for the local
community, Yarrabah Arts and Cultural Precinct have invested in a larger
presence at this year’s Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) that kicks off next
month 24 - 27 July 2014.
Since CIAF 2012, Yarrabah Arts and Cultural Centre has been exploring new
mediums like printing, etching, textiles and ceramics with a number of artists
and mentors. The result of their new focus is a collection of exciting new
works ready for CIAF 2014.
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Over the last two years the Yarrabah artists have also received artistic
recognition through exhibitions and awards in Cairns and interstate with
success as finalists in the 2013 Telstra NATSIAA Awards for two of the artists, all
six artists finalists in the 2013 Silk Cut awards, Edna Ambrym a finalist in the 2014
Shepparton Art Museum Ceramic Art Award and Michelle Yeatman a finalist
in the 2014 OneSight Rayban Indigenous Design award.
Arts Precinct Manager, Vanessa Gillen said CIAF 2014 will play an important
role in helping to consolidate Yarrabah artists when it comes to achieving
national artistic recognition as well as creating other outcomes that include
increasing employment opportunities, nurturing skills and promoting visitation
and tourism for Yarrabah community as a whole.
“We have a wonderful collective of emerging and award-winning,
experienced artists such as Philomena Yeatman, Michelle Yeatman, Edna
Ambrym and Valmai Pollard. CIAF is an opportunity on home soil to showcase
our talent to both locals and visitors alike,” she said.
In terms of CIAF involvement, Yarrabah Arts Centre will be featured in
exhibitions ‘Freshwater Saltwater – Existence’ at UMI Arts and CIAF’s own
exhibition of Queensland Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture, ‘SOLID!’ that is
being produced in partnership and on exhibition at the Cairns Regional Art
Gallery. This latter exhibition opens at the end of this month on 27 June with
the official launch on Thursday 24 July during CIAF.
Yarrabah Arts and Cultural Precinct will also have their own stand at the Art
Fair
showcasing and marketing their new textiles, ceramics and etchings
along with paintings, bags and other products.
About Yarrabah Arts & Cultural Precinct
The Yarrabah Arts and Cultural Precinct is a dynamic space for local artists to
undertake many local art forms and cultural activities including ceramics,
painting, weaving, printing and arts and craft. Well known for its pottery, the
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Yarrabah Arts Centre continues to produce outstanding ceramics and is
exploring new mediums including textiles, printing, woodwork and sculpture.
About CIAF 2014
The fifth annual Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) is set to deliver another
landmark event celebrating Queensland’s rich and diverse Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander art and culture when it is held at the Cairns Cruise Liner
Terminal 24-27 July 2014.
To date, CIAF has recorded attendance figures exceeding 65,000 visitors,
there has been participation by more than 600 Queensland Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander artists and performers, over $2.4 million has been
generated in direct sales of art works and more than $5.6 million in tourism
expenditure.
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) is supported by Arts Queensland, part of
the Department of Science, Innovation, Information and the Arts, through
Backing Indigenous Arts, a Queensland Government program that aims to
build a stronger, more sustainable and ethical Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander arts industry in the State.
For further information visit: www.ciaf.com.au
Ends
For further information, contact:
Alison Copley, CEO, CIAF
Mobile: 0459 845 546 Email: Alison@ciaf.com.au
For media enquires, contact:
Pip Miller, Publicist, Pip Miller PR
Mob: 0419 681543 Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au
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