CIAF 2026 Talks Program curated by Tania Major

CIAF 2026 TALKS PROGRAM

curated by Tania Major

Friday 10 - Sunday 12 July 2026

BUY TICKETS: https://ciaf.com.au/ciaf-2026-talks-program

CIAF’s 2026 'Reclamation & Regeneration' Talks Program, curated by Tania Major, will go in-depth into all things artmaking, collecting, promoting, policies and politics, conservation, and artistic authenticity in an era of Truth-Telling. Our esteemed keynote speakers are made up of artists, arts workers, curators and arts writers, authors, and visionaries in arts showcasing internationally. Representing First Nations arts will be experts of all fields, background and ages—alongside the occasional ally in the arts—bringing to the fore a reignited look into groundbreaking cultural and contemporary arts practice and theory.

CIAF 2026 MARK MAKER KEYNOTES:

Blak Douglas - Blak Portraits and the Archibald Prize

11 am - 12 noon Friday 11 July, Tanks Art Centre | Ticketed

https://www.ticketlink.com.au/ticketlinkEvents/ciaf/ciaf-2026-mark-makers-keynote-blak-douglas

Luke Currie-Richardson - Dancing in Between Worlds

Saturday 11 July, 1am - 12noon, Tanks Art Centre (Tank 5) | Ticketed

https://www.ticketlink.com.au/ticketlinkEvents/ciaf/ciaf-2026-mark-makers-keynote-luke-currie-richardson

Elverina Johnson - Reclaiming our Narratives through Regeneration of our Storytelling

11.00am – 12noon Sunday 12 July | Tank 5 | Ticketed

https://www.ticketlink.com.au/ticketlinkEvents/ciaf/ciaf-2026-mark-makers-keynote-elverina-johnson

CIAF TALKS CURATOR - TANIA MAJOR

Tania Major is a Kokoberra contemporary artist from Kowanyama, Cape York in northern Queensland, Australia.

Major’s painting and sculptural practice draws upon her cultural heritage and enduring connection to her land and waters. Her work explores themes of identity and spirituality, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the knowledge held by the Kokoberra, Yir Yoront, (Kokomenjen) and Kunjen clans; the Traditional Owners and descendants of the Lower Mitchell and Alice River.

An artist, activist, and former Young Australian of the Year, Major first came to prominence in 2004 as the youngest person elected to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). In 2007, Major was awarded Young Australian of the Year for her signification contributions in addressing the challenges faced by remote communities in Cape York.

Tania Major’s debut solo exhibition Echoes of Country - Stories from Kowanyama was presented at the Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne in 2024. In the same year, her sculptural work New Ghosts Lost on Country 1, 2 and 3 was awarded the 3D Design, Sculpture & Installation Award at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.

In 2025, Cairns Art Gallery presented Major's first institutional solo exhibition: Kowanyama - When Rain Falls, When Earth Sleeps. This exhibition features three papier-mâché dilly bag sculptures from Major's series, Traditional Reimagined Dilly Bags from the Cairns Art Gallery collection, alongside new paintings and sculptures.

FIND OUT MORE: https://ciaf.com.au/ciaf-2026-talks-program

--

CIAF is proudly supported by a range of government and philanthropic partners. This includes funding from the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Tourism and Events Queensland, via the Destination Events Program (QDEP) Fund. CIAF also receives support from the Australian Government through Creative Australia and the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) program, as well as ongoing support from Cairns Regional Council. CIAF is also supported by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund. In 2026, the CIAF Fashion Program is presented with the support of QIC.