About us
Welcome to the Cairns Art Society (CAS)! We are a membership-based volunteer run,Not For Profit association of artists from all across Far North Queensland. We have a long and rich history as a leading community art organisation in the Cairns region since 1931 which makes us the oldest Art Society in the region. Members of all levels and skill work in a wide range of media, from painting, drawing and printing to sculpture, textiles and digital. We operate in compliance with the Queensland Government's model rules for incorporated associations.
Our mission is to advance North Queensland artists with new skills whilst showcasing their works. We run two galleries - a "traditional" style gallery at the DFO shopping centre as well as Artists@Work in Sheridan Street where a community of artists collaborate in a working artisan gallery and also runs classes and events. We also organise two exhibitions each year in conjunction with the Cairns Art Gallery and the Tanks Cultural Centre.
Our aim is to bring members of all skill levels together to discuss and explore art, collaborate on activities, and run its operations.
We also link community members to artists to produce commissioned art pieces and murals, and to refer tutors.
The 150-plus members run the society through a management committee and monthly members meetings, where visitors are always welcome.
Members come from across the community, and range from professional artists and art teachers to beginners and art students. Many have joined since moving to Cairns, allowing them to readily engage with the Cairns cultural scene.
We are always looking for new and vibrant artists of all styles to join with us in this region so we can become more and more effective for both our artists and the community in general. We are always looking to collaborate with companies who would like to partner with us and I believe in the next 5 years we will become even more awesome in our outcomes and our delivery.
Should you wish to join or need more information, please go to our Membership page.
Lisa Costa, President
CAS operates two art galleries that all members are eligible to join.
CAS Gallery at DFO
DFO Shopping Centre, 274 Mulgrave Road, Westcourt, Cairns (main entrance)
Around 60 members display their work across a wide range of paintings, drawings, sculpture, cards, prints and more.
Members can also have their own exhibition as Feature Artist of the month.
Artists@work Studio & Gallery
29 Sheridan Street, Cairns (opposite Rusty's Market)
This large space in the Cairns CBD is a artists' collaborative run by its members who fund the operating costs to exhibit and work, and some run regular classes and periodic workshops.
Artists work there every day and are always ready to show visitors around. The gallery features a wide range of their paintings, drawings, sculpture, prints and cards.
Every month features two exhibitions by members and non-members can also exhibit.
Artists@work is also the venue for the society's monthly general meeting.
The Society runs two exhibitions a year in partnership with Cairns Regional Council.
74th Cairns Art Society Annual Art Awards –
18 February to 6 March 2022
This is the premier art awards for Far North Queensland. Artists Australia-wide are eligible to enter and compete for a range of awards in a pre-selection process. Fnalists' works are exhibited at the Cairns Art Gallery following the awards ceremony.
For details go to:
Artists of the North Exhibition -
22 March to 4 May 2022
This popular annual exhibition held at the Tanks Art Centre is open to all artists in the North Queensland region, and features a new theme every year.
CAS members run art classes and workshops
Currently, Yvonne Hering teaches Japanese woodblock printing at the Artists@work Studio & Gallery at 29 Sheridan Street, Cairns.
Joanne Bingham runs watercolour classes at Artists@work on Thursday afteroons. See details on the What's On page.
Friends and sponsors
Cairns Art Society works closely with Cairns Regional Council and many local businesses to make these benefits available to both artists and art-lovers.
These organisations and individuals sponsored the prizes to artists at both of the Society's exhibitions in 2022 - valuable support without which the Annual Awards would not be possible.
See Membership page for businesses that give concessions to CAS members.
The Ireland family
