Program Aims

Tanks Arts Centre’s Visual Arts Program aligns with Cairns Regional Council’s Strategy for Culture and the Arts. In particular, the program aims to:

• Provide equitable, accessible and affordable infrastructure, resources and cultural experiences.
• Connect people and communities to the region’s diverse history and cultures through engagement and participatory experiences.
• Partner and support community driven festivals and events that encourage broad participation and build new audiences for the arts.
• Interpret and amplify the significance of the Tanks and Botanic Gardens precinct, the city of Cairns and the people who live here, our cultures, our environment, and our place in the region.

Key Themes

To help direct the development of the program, seven key themes are identified. Initiatives by communities, artists and the Tanks Arts Centre should respond to one or more of these themes.

• Nature/Natural Heritage/Indigenous Flora & Fauna
• Indigenous Cultures 3. Asia Pacific Region
• North Queensland Region
• Local Communities and community issues
• Local Industry
• Local History

Community Initiatives

Community groups and organisations are encouraged to develop projects that utilise the facilities and services of the Tanks and Botanic Gardens precinct for the production and exhibition of visual art, with community cultural development outcomes such as:

• Building community capacity
• Addressing issues of social inclusion
• Retention of cultural heritage and identity
• Raising social and cultural capital
• Raising public awareness and understanding
• Influencing public policy

The level of involvement by the Tanks can range from offering marketing and production assistance, organisational support and project planning to developing partnerships.

Artists' Initiatives

Artists are invited to present project ideas that respond to the aims and themes of the Visual Arts Program. Proposals for residencies, exhibitions and events are assessed against the following criteria, but need not meet them all:

• The project and the work should have a high degree of collaboration. This may be between artists with each other, between artist and communities or between artists and professionals in other disciplines such as science, natural history and cultural heritage.
• Projects that involve a high level of creative engagement are encouraged. Communities and audiences may be involved in the work through participating in production or interacting with the product in a way that enriches the work.
• Projects that respond to the site in an innovative way are encouraged. Works may be site specific, or designed to locate and relocate around the buildings and grounds of the precinct.
• Proposals should consider innovative ways of extending the life and accessibility of the work beyond the period of exhibition.
• Projects should address one or more of the key themes of the Visual Arts Program.
• Projects that offer a potential for generating income for the artists are supported.

Proposals may be developed in consultation with the Tanks Curator and will be assessed internally.

Tanks Initiatives

Tanks Arts Centre initiates projects in partnership with artists and community organisations, in response to Cairns Regional Council’s Strategy for Culture and the Arts.

Services

• Studio and exhibition space and equipment
• Curatorial services
• Advice and assistance with project planning and grants
• Marketing services
• Handling of sales

The Tanks Arts Centre is a multi-arts venue and as such, there will undoubtedly be times when other projects and events concur with an exhibition, often in the same space. Tanks staff takes care to ensure that multiple bookings are advantageous to one another and will inform exhibitors of other projects and events during with the exhibition period. Tanks view this continual crossover of audiences to be an advantage to exhibitors, performers and to the larger community.

GALLERY/STUDIO SPACES

Tank 4 Gallery

Tank 4 can be divided and arranged in any number of configurations with movable gallery walls and lighting tracks. Long Gallery and Corner Galleries are nominal spaces and can be hired separately.

Tank 4 Gallery

Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre

The Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre is an entry point to the Cairns Botanic Gardens and the Tanks Arts Centre and enjoys a high volume of pedestrian traffic, both locals and tourists.

The interpretive area contains a gift shop. The Multipurpose area is suitable for workshops and has a display wall for small exhibitions of two-dimensional work. Exhibitions on this display wall do not incur venue hire fees.

Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre

EXHIBITIONS & RESIDENCIES FEES

Fees & Charges

Fees and charges apply to:

• Venue and equipment hire (Tanks 3 & 4)
• Labour
• Exhibition launch events
• Marketing and promotion
• Residency accommodation

Estimates of costs can be provided on request.

Waiving of fees and charges can be granted through Council’s In-Kind Grants Program for eligible applicants and projects.

Commissions

20% Sales commission will be deducted from the labelled sale price of each artwork when the Tanks provide the following services:

• Taking and receipting of moneys
• Use of credit card/eftpos facility
• Negotiating with purchasers the method and timing of payments for deposits and balances.
• Organising collection of sold artworks post-exhibition.