ARC Arts
Come and see what you can create
ARC offers a unique and engaging variety of arts programs that deliver a bold vision of diversity. ARC works collaboratively in the community to create a pathway for people with ambition to take their place in the arts worlds.
Ready to make films together? Jump into our vibrant film programs where creativity knows no bounds! Whether our filmmakers are experimenting with their first ideas or developing a professional project together. Whatever your goals and needs, we'll work together to bring your unique vision to the screen, build stories and support your own independent pathway in the film industry.
Our film programs work collaboratively and partner with professional filmmakers, artists, arts funding bodies, arts organisations and film festivals to create and share our film projects that continue to push creative boundaries and win awards.
Through shared learning, creative exploration, mentorship and creative partnerships, we explore and collaborate all aspects of film from the craft of screenwriting to writers' rooms and group storytelling sessions, directing, acting, designing, filming, editing and promotion / marketing to bring our unique stories to the screen.
Our visual arts programs and our City Hub is a space dedicated to facilitating and promoting artistic expression in the medium of visual arts: whether that's painting, drawing, digital art, creating mixed-media collage, getting your hands dirty with ceramics, capturing life through photography, sculpting, or even creating award-winning Cairns Festival Floats!
Our programs are designed to meet your needs. Whether you want to experiment, simply try something new, experiment, or you are ready to exhibit and sell your work. And if you're into crafts, we've got you covered. We run all sorts of programs like sewing, card making, tie-dying, jewellery making and scrapbooking.
We've built solid connections with established artists and the creative community, which means our artists get real opportunities—from solo exhibitions to group shows around the city, pop-up galleries and market stalls.
Our goal is to inspire self-expression, support you to unlock your creative ideas and showcase your talent. We're continually looking to generate fresh opportunities for artists at every level to shine. So come hang out, get creative, and see where your artistic journey takes you!
Do you like to perform or express yourself through drama, movement and dance? Come create with us! Our performing arts programs welcomes everyone, whether you're curious about trying theatre for the first time or ready to take to the stage in professional shows, we support artists at every stage of their creative journey.
Performance art is a wonderful way to express yourself, gain confidence and build physicality no matter your skill level. Our accessible programs and award-winning projects ensure all creators can explore their vision through performance, offering customized support based on individual needs and goals.
You can start your journey with fun theatre activities and games and movement workshops where we explore, develop and create together. Ready for more? Dive into our performance projects where we develop exciting shows for real, live audiences and support independent career pathways.
Whatever your experience level or goals, we'll support you every step of the way as you discover the joy of drama and live performance.
In our story-writing programs, our motto is 'the imagination has no rules.' And that is the beauty of story. Our story writing programs aim to arm and guide our budding authors, illustrators, playwrights, and novelists through the art of getting their unique ideas down on the page, bringing their characters and story worlds to life through illustration, and supporting the project through to publication and then maybe creative development and production.
Our programs support people at all skill levels and interests. Whether it's a first walk-through and introduction to story, tapping into your imagination and personal unique story voice, supporting you to initiate your ideas and bring them onto the page, or whether you want to write and illustrate a children's book, a comic, a song, or book of poems, or go deeper and write a play or that next great novel, we've got you!
We collaborate and partner with publishers, theatre companies, mentors, our drama, film and visual arts-based programs as well as funding bodies to nurture and support our storytellers every step of the way. Many of our storytellers have gone on to write and publish their own children's books and creatively develop and perform their own theatre shows. Our books have been added to the Cairns Library collections, been selected for Cairns Library First5Forever Programs & Exhibition Trails, and presented at the Cairns Tropical Writers Festival.
More information coming soon!
Looking for a way to invest in creating opportunities to enrich the arts in Cairns?
Find out about how you can play a vital part in bringing creativity to life by sponsoring ARC Arts by reading our Sponsors Prostectus, linked below.
ARC Disability Services Inc. gratefully acknowledges the generous sponsorship of ARC Arts by the Weller family. Their support helps foster creativity, inclusion, and community connection through the arts.
More information coming soon!
Cairns Grand Parade 2024
The ARC Arts team was awarded 1st place by Cairns Festival for the festival float parade.
Working in with the parade's theme of "embracing the rich diversity and the vibrant tapestry of colours, cultures, beliefs and traditions that create the kaleidoscope that is the FNQ community" the ARC City Hub strutted their fun creations that embodied the colourful marine environment that surrounds Cairns.
Big thanks to Tangaroa Blue for supplying the recycled materials that made up some of the props.
The Do's and Don'ts of Getting Married
The ARC Creatives' short film, The Do's and Don'ts of Getting Married saw an award studded film festival circuit throughout 2023 and 2024. Since its release, the film has captivated audiences and earned recognition across Australia and beyond.
