E X P R E S S I O N   O F   I N T E R E S T

COMMUNITY ARTWORK CALLOUT

Add your mark to Canvas of Cairns - where our community becomes the artwork, brought to life in a spectacular lighting and projection display at Cairns Festival!

Artist Callout Brief

Canvas of Cairns | Light Sculpture Figurines

Cairns Festival is inviting artists and creatives from across our community to submit expressions of interest for artwork that responds to the Cairns Celebrate 150 Years (C150) criteria, to be featured as part of Canvas of Cairns — a major projection and light installation on the Esplanade.

Selected artworks will become the centrepiece of a series of illuminated figurine sculptures, bringing vibrant, large-scale visual storytelling into the public realm. These sculptural forms will be installed along the Esplanade, collectively reflecting the diversity, identity, and spirit of the Cairns community.

The image above provides a mock-up of the figurine structures and demonstrates how selected artworks will be integrated as the central visual element of each piece.

We are seeking bold, thoughtful, and visually engaging works that respond to the C150 criteria, celebrating place, people, stories, and the unique cultural fabric of our region. Community Creatives from all backgrounds and disciplines are encouraged to apply.

This is an opportunity to see your work transformed into a large-scale illuminated installation and experienced by thousands across the festival.

Artwork Criteria - Cairns Celebrates 150 Years

In 2026 Cairns will Celebrate 150 Years (C150). In honour of this celebration, Cairns Festival Light Sculpture Figurines are aligning to the C150 theme/s.

What is C150? 

C150 stands for Cairns Celebrates 150 Years - a city-wide celebration of Cairns, honouring our stories, our people and our shared future.

Throughout 2026, events and activities across the region will reflect on the themes of:

• Recognising Cairns’ Past: Honouring the stories, traditions, and achievements that built the foundations of the city - from First Nations histories to pioneering industries and iconic moments.

• Celebrating Cairns Today: Showcasing the vibrant, diverse and creative spirit of modern Cairns - its people, schools, communities, businesses and natural beauty.

• Looking Forward to the Next 150 Years: Imagining the future we want to create - through innovation, sustainability, inclusion, and bold community vision.

C150 is a community-driven milestone that invites everyone to share stories, creativity and pride in our city. Find out more on the website and download the Cairns Celebrates 150 Years Prospectus( PDF, 3.52 MB ) 

Key Dates

• Applications open now

• Applications close Wednesday 1 June 2026 (11:59pm)

• Successful applicants notified mid June 2026

• Unsuccessful applicants notified mid to late 2026

• Cairns Festival 2026 will run from Friday 28 August - Sunday 6 September

Please note the following important details

By submitting an Expression of Interest, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• Submitted artwork must be original and respond to the Cairns Celebrate 150 Years artwork criteria (outlined above) and be suitable for public display (all ages, inclusive, non-offensive).

• Selection is at the discretion of the curatorial panel and not all submissions will be selected.

• All ages are eligible to submit artwork.

• If successful, you grant permission for Cairns Regional Council and Laservision to reproduce the artwork for application onto the sculptures and for public display during Cairns Festival on the Esplanade.

• If successful, you grant permission for Cairns Regional Council and Laservision to use the artwork for promotional purposes relating to the installation and the broader festival program (with appropriate artist credit where possible).

• This is an unpaid opportunity. It is a community-informed project offering  the opportunity to be part of a large public art installation at Cairns Festival 2026.

• About your design - As the artwork will be integrated within the figurine sculptures, please consider how your design will translate to the sculptural format. Large design elements within your artwork may not reproduce well within the confined shape of the form. We encourage designs that use smaller design elements, patterns, or repeatable motifs for example, which are more likely to adapt effectively and read well at scale.

Please provide the following details as you would like them to appear in promotional materials.

ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS:

Final supplied artwork must be supplied as per the following criteria: 

• Resolution -  150 DPI high-res digital image 

• Pixels - no larger than 2700 x 3600 

• File formats  - PNG, PDF or AI
  

Disclaimer: Failure to meet these specifications may result in your artwork being unable to be used.

Cairns Regional Council – Information Privacy Statement

Your personal information has been collected for the purpose of assessing your application. The collection of your information is authorised under the Local Government Act 2009. You are providing personal information which will be used for the purpose of delivering services and carrying out Council business. Your personal information is handled in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 and will be accessed by persons who have been authorised to do so. Your information will not be given to any other person or agency unless you have given Council permission to or the disclosure is required by law.