Report provides insights and analysis of Cairns arts and cultural sector

Cairns Council recently tabled the 2021 report ‘The State of the Arts’ which analysed the arts and cultural sector during 2021 and showed Cairns to have remained a significant economic hub for the sector, with a substantial economic footprint.  

The report revealed the industry remained buoyant and continued to grow despite the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic.

The SoARTS report was produced by project partners and lead researchers, Associate Professor Lisa Law, and Dr Russell Milledge from James Cook University (JCU), along with research collaborators Professor Bruce Prideaux, Michelle Thompson, and Leonie Cassidy from CQUniversity (CQU).

The report found there were opportunities for expansion and growth of the sector, including through greater cohesion between arts leaders in the region, as well as by heightened awareness about the leading role the industry plays in northern Australia.

The comprehensive report also considered:

• the benefits hard and soft infrastructure advances have made to the arts and cultural sector

• the importance of maintaining and preserving the city’s collections

• the importance of promoting and fostering Indigenous arts

• further opportunities to connect the arts and tourism sectors

• a perceived need to improve access to public art opportunities

• and an increased focus on the arts and disability sector and young creatives from the region.