Fair gets massive funding bonanza

l CAIRNS CBD

AN extra $400,000 a year in funding for the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) will help the event grow, reach global recognition and deliver economic and cultural benefits for Queensland ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The money, announced by Queensland Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch in Cairns this week, adds to the current $600,000 per year core investment through the Backing Indigenous Arts initiative.

Additionally, in 2023, CIAF will also receive project funding to support two new projects and two industry placements.

CIAF will develop the Coconut Leaf Project, a cross-cultural community project celebrating Torres Strait Islander craft and weaving with funding of $70,000 through the First Nations Commissioning Fund.

CIAF will also present Urban BLAKtivation, a family friendly, accessible arts and cultural event activating the Cairns CBD with Indigenous performance, art installation, story tellers and poets, with funding of $70,000 through the Queensland Arts Showcase Program.

tive to assist with the pressures of starting or expanding a business.

“Fit-out costs have considerably increased since COVID and therefore we are doing everything we can to assist our tenants.

“We have had a lot of interest in the centre, however we are looking for tenants which we feel will work well within the current tenancy mix.

“We like to always do the right thing by our tenants and we believe this starts with first impressions; by providing these incentives we are wanting to build professional and positive relationship with our tenants.”

The tenancies are shop 1-2 (124sqm), shop 3-5 (174sqm, can be divided into two of 92sqm and 82sqm) and shop 7 (163sq m). “For the right tenant and lease terms, we are offering three months free rent for a three-year lease and six months free rent for a five- year lease,” Mr Dyer said.

“The vacant tenancies would suit anyone looking for an office, retail space or medical premises,” he said.

The centre includes a medical centre, a physiotherapist, a psychologist, a real estate agent, a hair salon, an engineer, a marketing business, four eateries and a coin-operated laundramat.

“The centre is extremely well located for customer access, convenience and parking,” Mr Dyer said.

“This modern centre has excellent exposure and full glass frontage providing 48 on-site customer car parks and is situated in the northern beaches residential growth corridor and opposite childminding centre.”

Mr Dyer said since buying the centre, Magenta Enterprises “have spent a considerable amount of time and money to bring the centre to our standard”.

“We pride ourselves on owning a

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well-presented centre which is maintained to the highest standards,” he said.

“Smithfield Shopping Village is fast becoming the new shopping hub in Smithfield and has a fantastic tenancy mix.

“The centre is extremely well located for customer access, convenience and parking. It was opened in late 2016 and is situated in the northern beaches’ residential growth corridor.”

The centre was developed by Richardson Plant Hire (developer John Richardson) in 2016 and Magenta, which is a family-owned self-managed superannuation fund, bought the property in April 2019. Magenta also owns industrial properties at Bungalow.

Mr Dyer said fit-out incentives could be discussed on a case by case basis by contacting Rob Macfarlane at Knight Frank Cairns on 4046 5330.

Ms Enoch said CIAF had achieved great success since its establishment in 2009, and it was now time for the organisation to set its sights on the future.

Cairns MP Michael Healy said the investment would support CIAF to achieve its vision to grow the sale and distribution of First Nations art from Queensland and expand its profile across the state and nation.

CIAF artistic director Francoise Lane said “it is the natural business progression for CIAF to turn our attention toward philanthropic partnerships development to complement existing government and corporate partnership engagement as CIAF firmly positions itself as Australia’s premier Indigenous arts fair.”