Mark Gawne “Bee Eater, Leichardt River” (detail) 2001 | Private Collection, Cairns
Our Story
The Double R Arts Foundation supports projects that benefit communities and visual artists working across different mediums in Far North Queensland. Projects may include support for new technologies, research and travel, access to new media, creation of new works leading to an exhibition, access to studio-spaces, artist-in-residencies, and creative research and travel.
Inspiring through art;
A language for celebrating our
unique culture
Gary Namponan “Little Champ Ku” 2017 | Private Collection, Cairns
Who we are
The Double R Arts Foundation is a philanthropic initiative of a visionary couple who have lived in Far North Queensland over many years and who share a love of art.
Through the Double R Arts Foundation, they and fellow directors can provide more strategic support to art and artistic projects with the aim of leaving an enduring legacy for future generations of art lovers.
Why we exist
The founding directors are inspired by the history and extraordinary legacy of far-sighted individuals whose foundations, family trusts, bequests and art prizes have, over many years, shaped and grown the visual arts in Australia.
Diana Crooke “Island Morning” (detail) 2002 | Private Collection, Sydney
Heather Wunjarra Koowootha “The Salty Sea Eggs” 2024 | Private Collection, Cairns
Our approach
The four Double R Arts Foundation directors have strong business, legal and financial skills, and share a vision for long-term viability and relevance of the Foundation and a passion for supporting creative endeavour.
The Double R Arts Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Rather, the Foundation works with selected partners to identify artists and projects it will support in the North Queensland region – an area that extends from Cardwell to the Torres Strait Islands.
To date our projects have been developed in collaboration with the Cairns Art Gallery , resulting in the Foundation supporting the creation of a new body of work by four artists.
Our impact
The projects we support seek to inspire and enrich people’s lives through presentation of the best of Australian and international art in the region, and by taking the region’s unique culture to the world.
Installation “Little by Little in Wonderland”, exhibition by Hayley Gillespie, Cairns Art Gallery