Today the Cairns Art Gallery is one of the few remaining heritage buildings in Cairns. Located in the heart of the busy central business district and adjacent to the beautiful Cairns lagoon and boardwalk, the Gallery enjoys a prestigious location with on-street parking and is within walking distance to all forms of public transport.

Ideal for cocktail parties, private dinners, and corporate networking functions, the Gallery’s venues can be transformed to create just the right look for your event.

Fill out our function enquiry form and email to email/info)(cairnsartgallery.com.au to make your booking.

Function Enquiry Form

Ground Floor Gallery
Located on the ground floor, Lady Norman Gallery is available for sit down corporate dinners for up to 90 guests. The Gallery boasts a silver ash and Johnson Hardwood, or Spotted gum, floor. This Gallery Space has easy access for guests with limited mobility.

*Hire for this venue is only available outside of Gallery hours. 

Capacity: 110 standing / 90 seated

Monday–Saturday
5:30–8:30pm $700
5:30–11:00pm $1200

Sunday
2:30–5:30pm $800
5.30–8:30pm $1000
5:30–11:30pm $1500

Gallery Board Room
Cairns Art Gallery's stunning boardroom is available for meetings, intimate lunches, small gatherings and forums.

The room is panelled in tulip oak and white oak and was originally the Government Tourist Bureau. The mignificent silky oak and beige Chillagoe marble boardroom table is five metres long and was custom designed and built by artists Russell Milledge and Gregory Gilmour.

Capacity: 14 seated

Monday–Saturday
Half day (up to 4hrs) $350 
Full day 8:30am–4:00pm $550
5:00–8.30pm $650
5:30–11.30pm $1000

Sunday
10:30am–1:30pm $350

First Floor Galleries: Public Curators & Ireland Family
Originally the Public Curator's office, this Gallery has a magnificent Chillagoe marble floor and stately columns. Fabulous acoustics make the Public Curator’s Gallery ideal for musical recitals or book readings and launches.

*Hire for the venue is only available outside of Gallery hours

Capacity: 100 standing / 70 seated

Monday–Saturday
5:30–8:30pm $700
5:30–11:00pm $1200

Sunday
2:30–5:30pm $800
5.30–8.30pm $1000
5:30–11:30pm $1500

Ireland Family Gallery (only)
The ‘Access’ Gallery is perfect for cocktail receptions, presentations or lectures, as it offers easy access to the facilities of the education room.

*Hire for this venue is only available outside of Gallery hours. 

Capacity: 80 standing / 50 seated

Monday–Saturday
5:30–8:30pm $450
5:30–11:00pm $900

Sunday
2:30–5:30pm $600
5.30–8.30pm $800
5:30–11:30pm $1200

The Education Room
Located on the First Floor, the education room is perfect for seminars, lectures, workshops and film screenings. 

Facilities: Projector & screens, stereo, lectern & microphone, coffee/tea facilities, bar facilities, fridge.

Capacity: 50 standing / 30 seated

Monday–Saturday
Half day (up to 4hrs): $400
Full day 8:30am–4pm: $600
5:00–8:30pm: $650
5:30-11.30pm: $1000

Sunday
10:30am–1:30pm: $450
2:30-5.30pm: $800
5.30-8.30pm: $1000

The Loft Gallery
The Loft Gallery was formerly a storage ‘attic’ in the Public Offices Building. Its timber flooring, along with exposed timber beams and sloped roof, capitalise on the heritage flavour of Cairns Art Gallery. This modern, recently refurbished room (2016) is ideal for launches and presentations.

Capacity: 70 standing / 40 seated

Monday–Saturday
5:30–8:00pm $400
5:30–11:00pm $900

Sunday
2:30–5:30pm $500
5:30–8:30pm $800
5.30-11.30pm $1000

The Balcony
With views of the Court House Gallery, The Balcony is perfect for cocktail receptions and work functions.

Available for hire with the education room only.

Capacity: 30 standing

Cairns Art Gallery’s first priority is the preservation and protection of the art housed in the building. Therefore we do not hire the Gallery for birthday parties, wedding receptions or engagement parties. Sorry.

Prices quoted are for room hire only.

All events occurring outside Gallery operating hours will require a security guard, this cost will be incurred by the hirer.

A 10%, non-refundable deposit will be required for all bookings.

A Gallery representative will be in attendance for the duration of all functions.

Smoking is not permitted on the property.

Payment in full will be required within 7 days of receiving the hire invoice.

Damages to the Cairns Art Gallery building or property during the course of a function is the responsibility of the client.

The client will be charged any repair or replacement costs incurred by the Gallery in rectifying the damage.

Cairns Art Gallery is licensed and has bar facilities. As required, we can arrange for professional staff to service the function, at additional cost to the client. However, the Gallery does not provide, nor have the facilities to provide, a catering service. We request liaison with the Operations Co-ordinator regarding catering arrangements to ensure there is no risk to the artworks and that caterers are aware of the constraints of the Gallery spaces.

Any catering brought into the Gallery for a function must be removed at the immediate conclusion of the function.

If your function is being held outside of Gallery hours, special requirements must be made known to Gallery staff at least seven (7) days prior to your function to allow sufficient planning.