Our arts venues
Cairns hosts hundreds of national, international and local acts, performers and exhibitions every year in our unique venues, which include a series of re-purposed World War II storage tanks; a state-of-the-art theatre complex; parklands filled with botanical wonders from around the world and an old Court House-turned gallery.
Other important arts and cultural galleries and facilities in Cairns include:
Tanks Arts Centre
Address: 46 Collins Ave, Edge Hill
Opening hours: Tank 4 gallery space is open Monday to Friday, 9am - 4.30pm. Weekends 10am - 2pm.
Tanks Arts Centre is a unique gallery, performance space and music venue situated in the Cairns Botanic Gardens precinct.
Tank 3 and Tank 5 are open for events, festivals and performances.
Cairns Performing Arts Centre
Address: Cnr Florence and Sheridan St, Cairns City
Opening hours: Open most evenings for performances and during the day for matinees, the Cairns Performing Arts Centre (CPAC), is a new, state-of-the-art facility with multiple performance spaces and bar facilities. At CPAC, you can see a variety of events including theatre, music, dance, contemporary circus, opera, film and comedy.
Munro Martin Parklands (MMP)
Address: 123 Sheridan St, Cairns City
Opening hours: Open to the public from 6am to 7.30pm, seven days a week (except on ticketed event days). MMP boasts tropical plantings from around the world, vine covered pergolas and an open-air plaza and stage, which regularly hosts a wide range of shows from ballet and symphonies, to contemporary music concerts and pantomime.
Court House Gallery
Address: 38 Abbott St, Cairns City.
Opening hours: Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
The Court House Gallery presents a vibrant program of shared arts experiences including works from First Nations, experimental and emerging artists.
Gallery open some evenings for events. Closed Monday and Sunday.
Venues information
| Tanks Arts Centre | CPAC (Theatre and Studio) | Munro Martin Parklands | Court House Gallery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Address | 46 Collins Ave Edge Hill | Cnr Florence & Sheridan St, Cairns City | 123 Sheridan St, Cairns City | 38 Abbott St, Cairns City |
| Weather cover | Short uncovered walk | Sheltered drop off point | Outdoor venue | Short uncovered walk |
| Bicycle racks | Located near Tank 64 Cafe | Located on the Sheridan Street side of the building | Located at Florence Street Main Gate entrance | |
| Parking | Collins Avenue, Tank 1 car park (close to Sheridan Street entrance) | Public parking for 132 vehicles. | Sheridan, Florence, Minnie and Grafton streets, as well as at CPAC | Street parking or 350 metres from Lake Street multistorey car park |
| Seating | Standing only / Seated Standing / Seated* | Fully seated | Not seated | Not seated |
| Refreshments | Standing only / Seated Standing / Seated* | Bar snacks, fully licensed bar ** | Food Vans#, fully licensed bar# | Nil |
| Cameras | Phone only | None allowed | Phone only | Not permitted in exhibition spaces |
| Smoking | Outdoor designated area | Outdoor designated area | Outdoor designated area | Outdoor designated area |
| Capacity | 650 Standing. 480 Seated / Standing | 941/388 | 3000 | |
| Bathrooms | Accessible, located beside Tank 5 and in the Visitor Centre | Accessible, located on each level | Accessible, located on the Sheridan Street side, under the main vine arbour | Accessible, located on inside |
| Dress code | Casual, shoes required | Smart casual, shoes required | Casual, shoes required | Casual, shoes required |
Accessibility in our arts venues
We're committed to making our venues and programs accessible for all people. If you require specific assistance of any kind, please let us know when you book your tickets. At the venue, our friendly front-of-house staff are there to help.
| Tanks Arts Centre | CPAC Theatre & Studio | Munro Martin Parklands | Court House Gallery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access parking | Three in front of Main Entrance (front of Tank 4); one on Collins Avenue and two at Tank Sixty Four Café | Four in car park | Sheridan, Florence, Minnie and Grafton streets, as well as at CPAC | One on Abbott St in front of Art Work Spaces, and two across the road from the gallery in front of Woolworths |
| Wheelchair accessibility | Fully accessible with compliant graded paths and access points. Tank 3 has a compliant graded ramp | Fully accessible with seating available upon booking. Accessible lift available for transport to 1st/2nd levels of building | The park has been designed to be fully accessible | Fully accessible with compliant graded paths and access points |
| Wheelie walker | Keep with you | Usher will mind and return | Keep with you | Keep with you |
| Level access | Compliant graded paths | Level entry and lifts | Level ground entry | Compliant graded paths |
| Hearing system | Hearing loop - Telicoil software | Telecoil software-is activated when an event or exhibition has sound (music/speeches). | ||
| Companion card | Accepted | Accepted | Accepted | Not required |
| Bathrooms | Unisex accessible and an ambulant toilet in the male and female toilet facilities located beside Tank 5 and in the Visitor Centre | Unisex accessible and an ambulant toilet in the male and female toilet facilities on each level. | Unisex accessible and an ambulant toilet in the male and female toilet facilities located on the Sheridan Street side, under the main vine arbour | Unisex accessible, and an ambulant toilet in the male and female toilet facilities |
| # Event days only | * Some Tanks shows require fully standing to allow for higher ticket numbers to ensure a financially viable show | ** Opens 30 minutes prior to performance times |
Last Updated: 22 April 2024
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