Creative Cairns
Creative Cairns is a branch of Cairns Regional Council incorporating Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns Botanic Gardens, Cairns Esplanade, Cairns Civic Theatre, Creative Partnerships and Cairns Festival.
Dedicated to enriching the lives of residents and visitors, this vibrant branch delivers an eclectic range of cultural, botanical, historical and interpretive programming, delivered in unique venues, spaces and ways.
The Creative Cairns team is committed to connecting with people, fostering growth and facilitating the expansion of skills and knowledge, embracing best practise in sustainability, with care, empathy and professionalism.
This Cairns Regional Council branch develops synergies with multicultural groups, peak government bodies, the traditional arts community, business, tourism and the people to foster creativity in all its facets.
Cairns Regional Council’s Cultural Plan provides the broad brush strokes of leadership and strategy, delivered through the daily activities of Creative Cairns under the leadership of Manager Leslie Sparkes.
Serving the regional community, Creative Cairns has personnel based in strategic locations from Gordonvale to Mossman. The branch hub is in the new Cairns Botanic Gardens Precinct Visitor Centre, nestled at the foot of Mount Whitfield, providing a portal between Tanks Arts Centre and the Cairns Botanic Gardens.
Tanks Arts Centre is Cairns’ premier contemporary arts venue, incorporating music, performance, theatre and visual art with community events and engagement. Set in the Cairns Botanic Gardens Precinct, nature is entwined with culture here. Tanks takes its name from the past. The site very literally is comprised of three concrete fuel tanks, completed in 1944 for the Royal Australian Navy, decommissioned in 1987 and re-modelled into an arts centre by Cairns Regional Council, opening its doors in 1995.
Cairns Botanic Gardens occupies 38 hectares close to the city centre in leafy Edge Hill. It incorporates the Flecker Gardens, Centenary Lakes and Mount Whitfield Conservation Park. The Flecker Gardens features a stunning collection of rare, popular and beautiful tropical plants. Centenary Lakes offers visitors freshwater and saltwater lakes, home to a diverse array of plants and animals, including 136 species birds. Mount Whitfield Conservation Park provides visitors with a picturesque introduction to tropical rainforest flora and fauna, through its popular Red and Blue Arrow Walking Tracks.
Cairns Esplanade is a landmark destination. Famous for its saltwater pool, public amenities and fabulous public art, most notably the sculptured fish by Brian Robinson, this is a location accessible to everyone. Incorporating 3.5 hectares of grassed and landscaped areas and a 600m long absolute waterfront, hardwood timber boardwalk, you can relax, follow the historical, cultural and environmental interpretive trail or even enjoy a free exercise class or the community markets, all for free.
Cairns Civic Theatre was the first purpose-built theatre in regional Queensland, when it opened in 1974. Capable of seating 669 people for most performances, the Cairns Civic Theatre is both a presenter organisation and a venue, for a range of live stage performances. From community theatre and school productions to touring opera, comedy and musicals, there are few events that have not graced the 11m x 11m stage of the Cairns Civic Theatre over the years.
Cairns Festival is an annual celebration of life in the tropics. A hallmark event on the Cairns calendar, incorporating music, dance, theatre, film, literary arts and collaborative events, Cairns Festival is built on the foundation of Cairns’ local identity. It adds meaning to lives and fosters a sense of wonder as to what goes on around us, exploring who we are as a community and the unique sense of place we have.
Creative Partnerships fosters collaborative ventures, hosts innovative workshops and provides the grassroots linkages between Cairns Regional Council, local business, community groups and events. From public art to youth art, beautiful spaces and everything in between, the Creative Partnerships team works tirelessly, with energy, enthusiasm and innovation, to enrich the cultural offerings, development and presentations across the region.
Creative Cairns knows that creativity is essential to growth and sustainability. It tends to the implementation of the fundamental principles of Cairns Regional Council’s Cultural Plan, building a fertile ground for creativity to thrive and flourish across the region.
Formerly known as Cairns Regional Council’s Cultural Services and Facilities, the branch was renamed Creative Cairns in August 2011 in recognition of its key services and activities.
Contact Creative Cairns today for more information on programming, events, workshops, initiatives and opportunities.
Other useful cultural links include: