QUEENSLAND INDIGENOUS ART MOVEMENT
The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair supports an authentic Queensland Indigenous art movement that celebrates a traditional and contemporary approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural expressions through stories, design elements, motifs, symbolism and imagery that is unique to Queensland.
The use of traditional and cultural designs must be representative of Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and not representative of people and cultures outside of Queensland.
The use of dot work and cross-hatching with origins and styles from the Central and Western Desert and Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory is not considered traditional to Queensland.
CIAF upholds cultural protocols and does not approve of products for sale or display that present reproduced styles or creation beings without “proper” cultural permission.
If artwork is presented as following “traditional” styles, it should be culturally authentic to the artist. Artists must show a cultural connection or belonging to the designs and stories.
CIAF in consultation with the relevant Traditional Custodians will remove ceremonial objects for sale on display that may offend other Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander groups.