Bulmba-ja Arts Centre

23/12/2024

Bulmba-ja including NorthSite Contemporary Arts will close 25 December 2024 and reopen Tuesday 14 January 2025. The Hungry Pitcher will close 21 December 2024 and reopen 13 January 2025.

The Bulmba-ja team wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

25/11/2024

Musician, writer and visual artist WAARI returns to his hometown of Gimuy/Cairns to present a unique live show at NorthSite Contemporary Arts on 29 November, 7pm.

WAARI will perform his 5-track debut EP 'MUKI' in an audio-visual event featuring First Nations storytelling through dance, movement, art projections, poetry and live music.

For tickets and more information, visit:

WAARI presents MUKI in Gimuy/Cairns, QLD. Presented with Northsite Contemporary Arts at Bulmba-Ja Art Centre on the 29 November 7pm – 10pm

05/11/2024

Now open! See more than 60 works from the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art Indigenous Australian Art Collection in the 'I, OBJECT' exhibition at NorthSite Contemporary Arts.

‘I, OBJECT’ features contemporary painting, sculpture and installation works by leading Queensland artists such as Vernon Ah Kee, Naomi Hobson, Tony Albert, Michael Boiyool Anning, Fiona Foley, Danie Mellor, Christian Thompson and Warraba Weatherall alongside 20 historical shields, boomerangs and clubs.

For more information, visit: https://northsite.org.au/exhibitions/i-object-indigenous-art-tours-northsite-cairns

📷 Images:

Naomi Hobson / Kaantju/Umpila peoples / Australia QLD b. 1978 / A Warrior without a Weapon (series) 2018 / Digital photographic print on paper ed. 1/6 (+ 2 A.P.) / Ten sheets, various sizes / Purchased 2019 with funds from the Future Collective through the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Naomi Hobson

Alair Pambegan / Wik-Mungkan people / Australia QLD b. 1966 / Kalben (detail) 2016-17 / Carved wood with synthetic polymer paint and natural pigments, raffia / 107 pieces ranging from 14 to 41cm in length (excluding raffia); installed dimensions variable / Purchased 2017. Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Art / © Alair Pambegan

24/10/2024

Auditions are now open for young female actors from Cairns and Far North Queensland to join the chorus of JUTE Theatre Company's 'O, Ophelia', premiering in March 2025.

As part of the audition process, you'll participate in free acting workshops throughout November and have a chance to secure one of four chorus roles.

'O, Ophelia' will premiere at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre from 7-15 March 2025 and then tour regional Queensland.

For more information, visit: https://jute.com.au/o-ophelia/

Image: Amber Grossmann engages with Bea Holloway and Julia Allman during the creative development of O, Ophelia at Bulmba-ja.

18/09/2024

NorthSite Contemporary Arts has launched a residency collaboration with the 23 Sampaguita Artists Collective from the Philippines.

Titled 'Linear Horizons', the printmaking residency will unite creatives from Baguio City, Philippines with First Nations artists from Cairns to foster cultural exchange and strengthen pride and identity in both regions.

NorthSite will host a series of events during the residency to connect visiting artists with the community.

More info: https://northsite.org.au/media-release/printmaking-residency-linear-horizon

04/09/2024

Ausdance Queensland is bringing a series of workshops to Bulmba-ja Arts Centre this week. Topics include child safety, dance training for kids and business basics for First Nations. Check out more details below 👇

25/08/2024

📢 NEW EXHIBITIONS NOW OPEN - NORTHSITE CONTEMPORARY ARTS

Celebrate experimental approaches to environment, body and materials in four new exhibitions now open at NorthSite Contemporary Arts.

Explore diverse artistic expressions from Far North Queensland through the lens of artists:

▶ Jill Chism (Remnants)
▶ Luke Aleksandrow (The Break Collection: Sound of the Tropics)
▶ Cristina Bevilacqua (SKIN)
▶ Kim Nolan, Danish Quapoor, Lois Hayes, Bunda Art, Malki Studio, Anne Jillett (Intimate Worlds) curated by Lauren Carter

For more information visit https://northsite.org.au/look-now/

📸 Jill Chism Portrait by Anna Curtis, courtesy of the artist and NorthSite Contemporary Arts

24/05/2024

02/05/2024

Bulmba-ja including NorthSite Contemporary Arts and Hungry Pitcher are closed for the Labour Day public holiday, Monday 6 May, reopening on Tuesday 7 May 2024.

24/04/2024

Bulmba-ja including NorthSite Contemporary Arts and The Hungry Pitcher are closed for ANZAC Day, 25 April, reopening Friday 26 April 2024.


Image description: Outside façade of Bulmba-ja with text Bulmba-ja is closed Thursday 25 April ANZAC Day

23/04/2024

JUTE Theatre Company invites you to a free performance of the Isaac Drandic play 'I Gut This Feeling' to launch the Dare to Dream tour at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre on 3 May 2024.
This will be the play's only Cairns performance before it goes on tour to 5 remote and regional locations, including Mornington Island.
Find out more: https://jute.com.au/dare-to-dream
In this photo: Shahnee Hunter (front) and Sheyan Walker performing in I Gut this feeling. Photo by Paul Furse 📷

22/04/2024

1 WEEK LEFT! ⏰⏰
Applications for the Touring Queensland Fund Round 4 close at 2pm on Monday 29 April.

The Touring Queensland Fund supports regional community access to quality arts and cultural events and products.

To find out about current funding opportunities visit: https://tinyurl.com/ppkpv9ce or go to the Arts Queensland website.

Image description:
Text Touring Queensland Fund, single year and multi-year projects closing soon! Apply by 29 April in white text on a green background. Beneath the text is an image of 6 people in a band - a female playing a violin, a male playing a bass guitar, a male playing drums, a male playing acoustic guitar and singing at a microphone, a male playing keyboards and a male playing electric guitar. Behind the band is an image on a screen of 7 people holding various flags.

16/04/2024

Flying Arts has a great opportunity on Saturday 20 April for arts workers and artists in the Cairns region. UQ Art Museum is leading a free workshop giving insights into cultural mediation and visitor engagement practice and principles.
Where: Cairns Court House Gallery (38 Abbott St)
When: 10am-4pm
Register here: https://flyingarts.org.au/events/cultural-mediation-in-practice

Image credit: Cultural Mediation in practice, courtesy of UQ Art Museum. 📷

Image description:
Two females, one with long dark hair, dressed in a light brown jacket, white blouse with bow and black skirt pointing up at a piece of artwork. The second female has short blonde hair and is dressed in a dark jumper with her arms crossed and carrying a large black handbag. There is a diagram on the wall behind the two females.

15/04/2024

On World Art Day (15 April), we are showcasing 3 new exhibitions at NorthSite Contemporary Arts at Bulmba-ja in Cairns:

For thy sake I in love am grown, by Anastasia Klose
Flux and Fog: Landscapes of the Atherton Tablelands, by Annika Harding
I AM Muma Nai, by Naomi Evans

These exhibitions focus on our environment, exploring themes of conservation, biodiversity, landscapes, ecosystems and upcycling.

Open until 1 June 2024 - visit https://northsite.org.au/ for more information.

Image credits:
Image 1:
Anastasia Klose, Cloud Forest, 2023, (detail), pastel and pencil on paper, 101.5 x 67.5 cm. Photographer: Michael Marzik
Image 2: Annika Harding, Misty farm 1, photograph taken on fencepost, 2023, acrylic on pine, 6.5 x 7 cm. Image courtesy the Artist.
Image 3: Naomi Evans, 'Magnetic', 2024, appliqué mixed textile, cotton + nylon / wool / cotton thread / interfacing + felt, 45 x 38 cm.

08/04/2024

1 WEEK LEFT! ⏰⏰
Applications for the Queensland Arts Showcase Program Round 5 close at 2pm on Monday 15 April 2024.

QASP focuses on celebrating Queensland’s artists and stories, ensuring Queenslanders have access to high-quality arts experiences that grow our state's cultural reputation.

To find out about current funding opportunities visit: https://tinyurl.com/5n85j242 or go to the Arts Queensland website.

Image description: White text on a green background - Queensland Arts Showcase Program, single and 2-year projects, Closing soon! Apply by 15 April. Set above an image from Ishmael by Dead Puppet Society. 2 people holding hands in space.

05/04/2024

Touring Queensland Fund (Round 4) is open for applications. ❗️❗️

The Touring Queensland Fund supports regional community access to quality arts and cultural events and products.

There's still time to apply! Applications close 29 April 2024. ⏰⏰

To find out about current funding opportunities visit: https://tinyurl.com/ppkpv9ce or go to the Arts Queensland website.

Image description:
Text Touring Queensland Fund, single year and multi-year projects apply now! in white text on a green background. Beneath the text is an image of 6 people in a band - a female playing a violin, a male playing a bass guitar, a male playing drums, a male playing acoustic guitar and singing at a microphone, a male playing keyboards and a male playing electric guitar. Behind the band is an image on a screen of 7 people holding various flags.

28/03/2024

Bulmba-ja including NorthSite Contemporary Arts and The Hungry Pitcher at Bulmba-ja are closed from Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April for the Easter long weekend, reopening on Tuesday 2 April.

Image description: Photo of Bulmba-ja with text Bulmba-ja is closed Friday 29 March to 1 April 2024.