Cairns Venues Showcase 30 Local Artists Before July Program Launch

Organisers at two Cairns venues confirmed on July 10 that 22 emerging artists will present new work across music, visual arts and spoken word starting July 18.

The push comes as regional arts funding from the Queensland Government’s Regional Arts Development Fund increased by 18 percent for the 2026-27 year, giving smaller organisations room to back first-time creators instead of established names.

Workshops and preview nights will run at Tanks Art Centre on Collins Avenue in Edge Hill and at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre on Sheridan Street in the CBD. Both sites already host weekly open-mic sessions that drew 340 first-time performers last financial year.

Program details and venues

The Tanks series opens with a three-night run of short films and live scores made by residents of the Aloomba and Freshwater suburbs. Entry costs $18, with all proceeds split between the artists and the venue’s equipment fund. At the Performing Arts Centre, a spoken-word night on July 22 will feature five writers who completed the 12-week Cairns Writers Workshop run by the Cairns Regional Council library service.

Local attendance figures show that events labelled “emerging artist only” sold 2,150 tickets in the 2025 calendar year, a 27 percent rise on 2024. Average ticket price across those nights sat at $22.

Next steps for audiences

Full timetables appear on the Tanks Art Centre website from July 13 and at the box office of the Performing Arts Centre from July 15. Residents can also pick up printed programs at the Cairns Library branch on Abbott Street.