Cairns Arts and Culture

03/09/2026

RADF Major Round One reminder! 🤩

Grant Round Opening date: Round will open at midnight (start of day) Friday 4 September 2026 AEST for submissions.

The program has helped bring a range of local creative projects to life, including the North Queensland Breaking Bootcamp 2025, delivered by RADF recipient Hung Phan. Supported through a $6,700 2025 RADF Major Round Two grant, the project brought together young dancers from Cairns, Thursday Island, Sydney, Darwin and Japan for a day of workshops, mentorship, cultural exchange and dance battles, helping strengthen pathways for youth participation in the arts.

Featuring leading breaking instructors from Japan and Sydney, the bootcamp provided regional young people with access to industry-level training while fostering confidence, leadership skills and new cultural connections. The event attracted many first-time participants and audiences, highlighting strong demand for youth-focused hip hop and breaking programs in Far North Queensland.

Follow the link, don't be shy. You should apply!
www.cairns.qld.gov.au/online/apply/grants/radf-major

02/09/2026

🎶 CAIRNS TALENT SET FOR BIGSOUND 2026

Cairns Regional Council is proud to support local artists performing at the Queensland Regional Showcase at BIGSOUND 2026, helping showcase the strength of Cairns' thriving music scene on a national stage.

Among the artists representing the region is TULLARA whose unique sound and captivating live performances continue to earn recognition well beyond Far North Queensland.
Taking place on Wednesday 2 September at Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, the showcase connects regional artists with industry leaders, presenters, promoters and music lovers from across Australia.

Presented by Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective and Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct, and supported by Cairns Regional Council, Invest Gold Coast and Noosa Council.

This event celebrates the depth and diversity of regional Queensland music while creating opportunities for artists to grow their careers and audiences.

Supporting pathways that elevate Cairns artists and strengthen our local creative sector.

👂🎤 Catch Tullara in your neighbourhood!
EP launch at Tanks Arts Centre | Sat 31 Oct
https://tanksartscentre.com/tullara
👇 QLD Regional Showcase full line-up: https://www.bigsound.org.au/.../queensland-regional-showcase

One of the region's most captivating musicians, Tullara celebrates the release of her long-awaited debut album Rebound with a special hometown launch at Tanks Arts Centre.Known for her soaring vocals, formidable guitar and banjo skills, and deeply honest songwriting, Tullara has spent years carving....

01/09/2026

🎨 Artist opportunity! | RADF Major Round One opening!

Have a creative project you'd like to bring to life in Cairns or the Far North? The next Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) grant round opens Friday 4 September 2026.

RADF supports local artists, creatives and community organisations to deliver projects that strengthen arts and culture across our region.

A recent project supported through RADF was the North Queensland Breaking Bootcamp 2025, delivered by recipient Hung Phan. Funded through a $6,700 RADF Major Round Two grant, the bootcamp brought together young dancers from Cairns, Thursday Island, Sydney, Darwin and Japan for a day of workshops, mentorship, cultural exchange and dance battles.

Featuring leading breaking instructors from Japan and Sydney, the event provided regional young people with access to industry-level training while building confidence, leadership skills and new cultural connections. The bootcamp also attracted many first-time participants and audiences, highlighting strong demand for youth-focused hip hop and breaking programs in Far North Queensland.

📅 Applications open: Friday 4 September 2026
📅 Applications close: Friday 9 October 2026 (midnight)
🔗 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/online/apply/grants/radf-major

RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Cairns Regional Council to promote local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

24/07/2026

The Next Wave 2026 lineup is here.

Congratulations to the four original acts selected to take part in this first of this year's programs and perform at the Cairns Festival Esplanade Main Stage on Sunday 6 September:

🎤 MC Pyrit ft. Vivien Aisi
🎸 Yindali Sharp
🎵 Maple Street
🎶 Aurelle & The Jams

Over the coming weeks, these artists will work with the Enter Stage Right team through rehearsals, mentoring and performance development before taking to one of the region's biggest stages for Miss Tee Ketu Band + The Next Wave Band Showcase || Cairns Festival 2026

A huge thank you to everyone who applied. The standard was incredibly high, and we're grateful to every artist who put themselves forward. Applications for our Tanks Arts Centre showcase in October are still under consideration, with those selections to be announced soon.

Join us at Cairns Festival and help celebrate the next generation of original music from Far North Queensland.

15/07/2026

CALL OUT FOR NOMINATIONS! 📣

In 2024, The Ian Potter Cultural Trust joined the Sidney Myer Fund to support early to mid-career Australian artists and cultural leaders through Creative Fellowships.

The Trust awards two Ian Potter Creative Fellowships annually, and the Sydney Myer Fund awards eight. The Fellowships provide unrestricted tax-free grants of $200,000 over two years to individual Australian artists, creatives, and cultural leaders across artforms (from visual and performing arts to interdisciplinary, new media, literature, and the humanities).

For more information, and to nominate, visit the Sidney Myer Fund website:

https://www.myerfoundation.org.au/grant-opportunities-list/sidney-myer-creative-fellowships

25/06/2026

🌊 Expressions of Interest Now Open: THE NEXT WAVE 2026 🎶
Cairns Regional Council is proud to support THE NEXT WAVE, an exciting artist development program helping emerging musicians from across the Cairns region take their music from the rehearsal room to the main stage.

Delivered by Enter Stage Right and hosted at Elixir Music House, the program provides aspiring original artists with valuable industry experience, professional development opportunities and paid performance opportunities at some of the region's premier events.
🎤 Only 8 places are available in 2026

Successful participants will receive:
✅ Free rehearsal session at Elixir Music House
✅ Dedicated sound engineer support
✅ Paid live performance opportunity at either:

Cairns Festival Main Stage – 6 September 2026
Cairns Music Industry Gathering, Tanks Arts Centre – 30 October 2026
✅ Professional photo and video content for EPKs and social media
✅ Multitrack recording and board mix of their live performance

We're seeking original bands, solo artists and duos ready to take the next step in their music careers.
📅 Applications close Monday 13 July 2026
Apply now:
👉 https://forms.gle/gZatiPTEorsPxwBT6
For more information:
📧 [email protected]
📞 0439 611 703
Cairns Regional Council is proud to support initiatives that nurture local creative talent and strengthen our region's vibrant music industry.

🌊 Enter Stage Right presents...THE NEXT WAVE

Expressions of Interest – NOW OPEN

From rehearsal room to main stage.

THE NEXT WAVE is an artist development program supporting the next generation of original musicians from the Cairns region.

Delivered by Enter Stage Right, supported by Cairns Regional Council, and hosted at Elixir Music House, The Next Wave provides emerging artists with professional development, industry experience, and the opportunity to perform on some of the region's biggest stages.

We're looking for original bands, solo artists and duos ready to take the next step.

⚠️ Only 8 places are available in 2026.

Participants will receive:

🎤 Free rehearsal session at Elixir Music House
🎚️ Dedicated sound engineer support
💰 Paid live performance opportunity at either:
• Cairns Festival Main Stage (6 September)
• Cairns Music Industry Gathering – Tanks Arts Centre, Tank 5 (30 October)
📸 Professional photo and video content for your EPK and social media
🎧 Multitrack recording and board mix of your performance

Apply now

👉 https://forms.gle/gZatiPTEorsPxwBT6

📅 Applications close: Monday 13 July 2026

For more information:

📧 [email protected]
📞 0439 611 703

Acknowledgement

Enter Stage Right gratefully acknowledges the support of Cairns Regional Council, whose backing has made THE NEXT WAVE possible.

24/06/2026

Salt water meets fresh water.

In The Light Inside, Torres Strait Islander choreographer Deborah Brown and Māori choreographer Moss Te Ururangi Patterson bring together the stories of two island nations, exploring connection to land, sea, matriarchy, and the light passed down from our ancestors.

It's stunning, powerful, and unforgettable.

Part of Bangarra's Horizon | Fri 14 Aug | CPAC
Book Now 🎟 https://cairnsperformingartscentre.com.au/ticketlinkEvents/dance-and-ballet/bangarra-dance-theatre-horizon

15/06/2026

🎭 APAX 2026: Registrations, awards and travel bursaries now open!
Don't miss the Australian Performing Arts Exchange happening in Brisbane from 7–11 September. This industry event brings together performing arts workers from across Australia to collaborate and shape the future of live performance.
Early bird registrations are now open and we're providing travel bursaries to help eligible delegates cover costs.
Applications close Thursday 18 June 👉 https://bit.ly/4vMxDrz
Nominations for PAC Australia’s IMPACT Awards are also open, celebrating excellence in the live performance sector.
Nominations close Wednesday 24 June 👉 https://bit.ly/4upnMXh

📷 PAC Australia. Credit: Alex Sibbison

🎭 APAX 2026: Registrations, awards and travel bursaries now open!

Don't miss the Australian Performing Arts Exchange happening in Brisbane from 7–11 September. This industry event brings together performing arts workers from across Australia to collaborate and shape the future of live performance.

Early bird registrations are now open and we're providing travel bursaries to help eligible delegates cover costs.

Applications close Thursday 18 June 👉 https://bit.ly/4vMxDrz

Nominations for PAC Australia’s IMPACT Awards are also open, celebrating excellence in the live performance sector.

Nominations close Wednesday 24 June 👉 https://bit.ly/4upnMXh



📷 PAC Australia. Credit: Alex Sibbison

09/06/2026

What. A. Weekend.
Sticky fingers. Big smiles. Endless energy. 🎨🎪✨

From hands-on workshops and colourful performances to dancing, creating, exploring and making memories, Cairns Children's Festival 2026 was packed with fun from start to finish.

📅 SAVE THE DATES for next year!

Click 'Interested' here Cairns Childrens Festival 2027 || Sat 15 & Sun 16 May

A huge thank you to all the little adventurers, families, artists, performers and volunteers who helped make this year's festival so special. 💛

Relive some of the magic in our wrap-up reel below 👇

05/06/2026

Coming soon! Design Futures Forum: Living Tropical 🌺

📍 Thu 18 Jun, Tanks Arts Centre

This is an invitation to come together, share perspectives and imagine design futures for Cairns as an inclusive, sustainable and thriving tropical city.

Through open discussion, the forum explores housing, city-making and the role design can play in shaping Cairns’ future.

Fresh from the unveiling of Floriate, his major new public artwork at Brisbane's newly opened Glasshouse Theatre at Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brian Robinson joins the Forum for a special Q&A with local creative producer Nick Mills. Together they'll explore the making of public art and the ways culture, place and identity shape contemporary creative practice.

Other speakers include:

✨Jennie Officer: Officer Woods Architects (WA), Approaches to multi res social/affordable housing - inc. NSW pattern book

✨ Laura Harding: Urban Design, Hill Thalis, (NSW), Urban resilience, designing with climate and landscape

✨ John Elway: Architect (QLD), Infill housing + living small

✨ Martin O’Dea: Landscape Architect, Clouston (NSW/NT), Heat + Landscape in the Tropics – Cooling Darwin case study