This year’s Cairns Festival will commence with the culturally significant exhibition, (re)connection: Culture, Country & People, marking the opening of the Mulgrave Gallery. This exhibition aims to provide a space for reconnecting with the deep cultural roots of First Nations people. Cairns Festival to Open with Culturally Significant Exhibition
Led by Cairns Regional Council First Nations Curator Peggy Kasabad Lane, the exhibition seeks to strip back the layers of history within the Mulgrave Gallery to the land on which it stands. This initiative acknowledges the site’s original name, its colonial past, and its new role as a First Nations-focused gallery.
“When people enter the space, I want them to go on a journey of experiencing the artists’ work, really slowing down, taking a moment, being immersed and listening to what the artist is trying to communicate,” said Lane. “There are some works from female artists that are quite dominant in a space which was previously dominated by men; and there is also truth that speaks to the journey of Indigenous people in the region.”
Integrating with the Cairns Festival
The opening of the Mulgrave Gallery alongside the Cairns Festival allows for a seamless flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces, showcasing First Nations art. Lane emphasized the significance of this integration in enhancing patrons’ experience of the exhibition.
“Walking through the whole area is an emotional journey that I want people to come on while taking in all the festival has to offer,” she said. This includes music and performances on the front lawn of the Court House Gallery and the beautiful gobos featuring First Nations artwork on the Esplanade alongside Reef Lights.
Complementary Events and Exhibitions
Complementing the Mulgrave Gallery exhibition is Shift – an evocative outdoor film by Zane Saunders in collaboration with Bonemap. The film will be shown at 6pm each night of the Cairns Festival outside the Mulgrave Gallery, connecting it with the Court House Gallery. Shift offers a poetic reflection on the transformation and shapeshifting of human spaces, capturing the adaptation of the former Mulgrave town hall.
The Court House Gallery will also feature several notable exhibitions during Cairns Festival, including Janjari by Dr. Fiona Foley, Voices of Our Past by Galbu Geth, Cultural Narratives of the North, and Bloom by Bonemap.
Festival Launch Party: A Cultural Rising
Marking this occasion, the Festival launch party, A Cultural Rising, will take place on the front lawn of the Court House Gallery on August 23. This free event will honor the traditional lands with a Welcome to Country ceremony and showcase performances by the Naygayiw Gigi, Saibai Island Dance Troupe, hip-hop artist Normey Jay, and the iconic Christine Anu.
The public is invited to attend the launch event at 6pm to experience the rich cultural expressions of First Nations artists and performers. Additional satellite exhibits will be hosted during the Cairns Festival at Bulmba-ja, featuring Season Four at Northsite Gallery, as well as Sweatbox at Crate59 Gallery and Energy 2024 at the Tanks Arts Centre (Tank 4).
Exhibition Dates
Cairns Festival will run from August 23 to September 1. The (re)connection: Culture, Country & People exhibition will run from August 23, 2024, to January 11, 2025.
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