CIAF is the quintessential celebration of the art of Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Tropical Cairns is the setting for the three-day annual display of visual art, music, performance and knowledge sharing in a combination of free and ticketed events.
CIAF is an art fair but it is also a place for the finest cultural exchange and a fair point of sale for the Indigenous artists of Queensland. Each year, local schools participate in CIAF through the Education Queensland R.E.A.C.H (Regional Excellence in Arts and Culture Hubs) program, that assists school age children to increase their awareness and knowledge of Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and cultural practice.