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.

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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.

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Our aim is to bring members of all skill levels together to discuss and explore art, collaborate on activities, and run its operations. 

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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. 

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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.

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Should you wish to join or need more information, please go to our Membership page.

Lisa Costa, President

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CAS operates two art galleries that all members are eligible to join.

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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.

Cairns Art Society Annual Art Exhibition

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.

Artists of the North Exhibition

This popular 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

Since 2005, CAS has run its annual 5-day art school ArtEscape at the Tanks Art Centre, with interstate and local art tutors running classes for 100-plus artists.  Many southern artists take advantage of ArtEscape as a winter holiday in the tropics, and all participants enjoy the luxury of immersing themselves in art and  learning new skills and techniques.

CAS is seeking a co-ordinator for its 2021 Artescape.

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CAS members also run regular art classes and periodic workshops. 

Currently Sheran Barton holds classes on Thursday and Saturday mornings at the Artists@work Studio.

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Other tutors who hold periodic workshops at Artists@work are Pete Marshall (wildlife art) and Yvonne Hering (Japanese woodblock printing). 

Archibald Prize 2012 winner Cherry Hood, a regular Artescape tutor

Sheran Barton

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 are just some of those who have supported CAS exhibitions this year. 

​See Membership page for businesses that give concessions to CAS members.