Experience the vibrant visual arts of Tropical North Queensland in this elegant heritage building in the heart of Cairns. Construction of the former Public Curators Building was completed in 1936 – a stately two story building of brick and stone. In 1995, the building was renovated and re-opened as the Cairns Regional Gallery.
Cairns Regional Gallery hosts exhibitions of fine arts from major Australian and international collections covering historical and contemporary art including the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
Visitors to the Gallery can also witness the creativity of local artists living and working in one of Queensland’s most dynamic regional arts communities. The Gallery exhibits the work of artists based throughout the tropical north.
For many of Australia’s leading artists, the experience of the tropics was a major influence on their life and work. Artists including Russell Drysdale, Donald Friend, Ian Fairweather and Margaret Olley have all visited the region and Ray Crooke has made his home here for many years.
Today, Cairns and Tropical North Queensland continue to inspire many established and emerging artists, many of who are making names for themselves in the Australian contemporary art scene.
The Gallery Shop offers a wide range of high quality Australian ceramics, glassware, jewellery, prints, cards, books and magazines on sale.
The Cairns Regional Gallery is open to the public from 10:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Saturday, and from 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday. Located at the corner of Abbott and Shields Streets, the Gallery also has several function spaces available for meetings, receptions, small gathering and catered events.
