Cairns’ strategy report reveals impact of COVID on the arts

An annual review of the Cairns Strategy for Culture and the Arts 2022 has revealed strong opportunities for ongoing growth as the region recovers from the impacts of COVID-19.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the report underlines Cairns Regional Council’s commitment to culture and the arts through their continued delivery of world-class programming, infrastructure and resources to stimulate and support creative and cultural activity.

The report, which focused on the strategy’s third year, revealed over 60% of proposed actions in the 2020/21 financial year were completed and high levels of engagement were achieved, despite significant disruptions due to the pandemic. 2020/21 saw the Old Cairns Courthouse -the cornerstone of the Cairns gallery precinct, almost 100 years after its construction, officially opened in its new role as a CBD arts hub, and a further commitment of $10 million from the Federal Government’s Regional Recovery Partnerships to continue development of the Cairns Gallery Precinct.

Active participation, audience numbers and employment opportunities were all lower in 2020/21 compared to 2019/290, reflecting the impact of COVID-19 which led to the closure of Council facilities and cancellation of suspension of shows and programs.

Data from the 2019/20 report incorporated Cairns Festival figures, including 87,000 attendees, which was cancelled in the 2020/21 financial year.

Highlights of 2020/21 also included the initiation of the Summer Sounds series, a partnership with Tourism Events Queensland and Tropical Tourism North Queensland, which recorded over 6,600 attendees, including 25% from outside the region; and the adoption of an Arts and Disability Strategy, a Young Creatives Strategy and a Public Art and Creative Placemaking.