The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair invites you to apply to be a part of CIAF’s Fashion Performance. Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now being called for Queensland’s Indigenous Fashion Designers, Art Centre’s and Artists working in wearable art to showcase their collections in this year’s performance, Masters of Country- “An artistic celebration of Queensland First Peoples’ knowledge and resourcefulness of Indigenous plants and trees”
If your EOI is successful a designer’s agreement will be issued.
The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s Fashion Performance is a leading artistic platform where indigenous culture is celebrated through art, fashion, modelling, dance and performance. The Fashion Performance was launched in 2013 by Grace Lillian Lee and has become known for featuring a wide range of Indigenous Artists and Designers who are actively expressing themselves through fashion and textiles. The project creates a unique space for a wide array of creatives to come together collaboratively from dance, music and art in order to present a contemporary fashion performance that has gained National and International recognition from as far as Vogue Japan to Lifestyle Vogue Australia.
In 2019 CIAF’s appointed creative team are opening the opportunity up to all QLD Indigenous Designers who are interested in pushing the boundaries of Fashion, Art and Culture. In addition to their curatorial duties, the creative team will also be working with successful applicants to ensure that their collection is showcased at the highest possible level.
CIAF is looking to infuse the regions unique techniques and textures on fabrics through successful collections with traditional and or contemporary pieces through the act of adornment/wearable art, presentation and performance with a key focus on the theme Masters of Country- “An artistic celebration of Queensland First Peoples’ knowledge and resourcefulness of Indigenous plants and trees”
The aim of the CIAF Fashion Performance is to bring together contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fine art with high end fashion through two innovative and professional catwalk performances. With the purpose to promote contemporary Indigenous design and to empower Indigenous youth through mentorship, modelling and movement skills, whilst strengthening their cultural connection to Country and family. representation of who they are and where they come from, . CIAF has created an opportunity for designers and models to collaborate with creatives throughout the presentation and production process. We envision this year’s Fashion Performance to be made up of full collections (fashion), elaborate adornments (head dress neck & body adornments) or both.
As the number of collections able to be showcased throughout presented at CIAF’s Fashion Performance is limited to 10, acceptance curatorial selection can be a competitive process. Please provide five strong images to visually document your collection and a short collection statement, outlining the concept and ideas behind the collection.
