Far North artists out of centre plan frame
DANAELLA WIVELL ARTISTS across the Far North feel they have been let down and misled after being denied public expressions of interest for the new Cairns Performing Arts Centre.
Instead, CPAC lead architect Richard Colson, Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art’s Simon Wright, both based in Brisbane, have selected works for the theatre.
Visual Arts Association of FNQ president Lone White said meetings she had with Cairns Regional Council representatives in 2016 promised public expressions of interest for the centre’s artworks.
“I asked if we were going to be involved from the start. The architect told me he liked that idea,” she said. “It took nearly two years for the next meeting. We were told they already had the artworks.”
She said Far Northern artists were being excluded from an invaluable opportunity.
“We want to make this place the centre for arts,” she said.
“We put their faith in them. We waited for two years.”
Cairns Regional Council’s community, sport and cultural services manager Linda Kirchner said it was decided that public expressions of interest were not the right way to find CPAC’s artworks.
“Several pieces were acquired through the internationally renowned Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, which is the region’s largest art event and attracts works of the highest calibre.
“Other pieces have been commissioned through negotiations with some of Far North Queensland’s most highly regarded artists.”
A council spokeswoman said the number of artworks bought for CPAC’s fit-out and their costs could not yet be revealed.
The council previously had a policy of contributing 1 per cent of a building’s cost to artwork but moved away from that policy before the building of CPAC started.