FLAME 2026 – Future 150

Venue: Tanks Arts Centre

2026 FLAME Visual Program Exhibition
Launch: 5:30pm, Fri 27 Feb – all welcome
Exhibition: 27 Feb - 29 Mar 2026

FLAME 2026 – Future 150 is the exhibition outcome of the FLAME Visual program, providing young artists the opportunity and skills to explore their arts practice and maintain a creative life.

Now in its tenth year, the FLAME Visual program continues its mission to empower the next generation of artists. Designed to build confidence, spark curiosity and nurture long‑term creative practice, the program supports young people to develop skills, insights and experiences that will carry well beyond their school years.

Tanks Arts Centre fostered a holistic ‘creative life’ approach, connecting participants with four established artists; Holly Mervyn‑Jones, Jamie Cole, Maharlina Gorospe‑Lockie and Mum’a Nai, who acted as creative mediators and mentors. Over three months, through hands‑on learning, experimentation and peer‑to‑peer collaboration, young artists expanded their technical abilities and deepened their artistic expression, working collectively toward this exhibition.

In honour of the 150‑year anniversary of Cairns, this year’s cohort responded to the theme Future 150. Their works explore the intersections of past, present and imagined futures, offering bold, personal and forward‑looking perspectives from the region’s emerging voices.


The FLAME Visual project is proudly supported by the generosity of benefactor Paul Matthews, whose ongoing commitment makes this program possible.

Young Creatives: Abi Beckwith, Alarna Denigan, Bianca Sordelli, Cody Stauder, Dervla Hammett-Ryan, Eli Sheardown, Elina Passant, Elleni Geena Adams, Erin McKellar, Georgia Mansell, Hamish Darveniza, Harriet Mills, Indi Turley, Kaier Brown-Ling, Kianna Morris-Clarke, Kyla Molina, Leila-Grace Shepherd, Madison Wiltshire, Matilda Rose Hood, Matthew Nelson, Mia Blu Honeyman, Monique Gawne, Naiya Duff, Phoebe Slade, Sarah Beath

Creative Mediators: Jamie Cole, Mum'a Nai (Naomi Evans), Holly Mervyn-Jones, Maharlina Gorospe-Lockie

Venue: Tank 4
Opens: Mon-Fri 9.00am - 4.30pm, Sat-Sun 10.00am - 2.00pm

Image: Experimental Skull Zine (detail), Sienna O'Connor, 2025.

Other upcoming events for this venue 'Tanks Arts Centre'
	Mon, 27th Apr 2026 Schalk Bezuidenhout - Hey Hey Divorcé Schalk Bezuidenhout 7:00PM Tanks Arts Centre		Tue, 28th Apr 2026 Akash Bhatt - Rusty's - Residency and Exhibition 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Tue, 28th Apr 2026 Threads - Nicola Bryars-Parker 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Tue, 28th Apr 2026 Sahan Kulathunge - Water Remembers 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Sat, 2nd May 2026 Eric Bibb Eric Bibb 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 8th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 8th May 2026 Baby Animals 2026 Baby Animals 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Sat, 9th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Sat, 9th May 2026 Meg Mac 'It's My Party' 2026 Tour 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Sun, 10th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Mon, 11th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Tue, 12th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Wed, 13th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Thu, 14th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 15th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 15th May 2026 Riebl Tedesco McGill 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Sat, 16th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Sun, 17th May 2026 Cairns Children's Festival - Free Family Fun Day 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Sun, 17th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 22nd May 2026 Receive Respond 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 22nd May 2026 Playlunch Sex Ed Regional Tour 7:00PM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 29th May 2026 Receive Respond 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 29th May 2026 Cookin' On 3 Burners 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Sat, 30th May 2026 Little Quirks + Minnie Marks 6:30PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 5th Jun 2026 Receive Respond 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 12th Jun 2026 Receive Respond 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 19th Jun 2026 Receive Respond 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 19th Jun 2026 Kingswood 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Sat, 4th Jul 2026 Tanks Blues - Ray Beadle Ray Beadle 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Thu, 9th Jul 2026 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) 2026: Opening Night 4:00PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Thu, 23rd Jul 2026 Paul Dempsey - 'Shotgun Karaoke II' Paul Dempsey 7:30PM Tanks Arts Centre		Sat, 25th Jul 2026 Driftwood EP Launch Driftwood 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 31st Jul 2026 Emma Memma's Jungle Picnic Tour Emma Memma's Jungle Picnic Tour 10:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 31st Jul 2026 Emma Memma's Jungle Picnic Tour Emma Memma 12:30PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 7th Aug 2026 Sub-Tribe Sub-Tribe 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Sat, 8th Aug 2026 Brad Cox Multiple Dimensions Tour Brad Cox 7:30PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Thu, 10th Sep 2026 Phil Jamieson Phil Jamieson 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 18th Sep 2026 Vika & Linda "Where Do You Come From?" 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Tue, 6th Oct 2026 Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase 2026 Sydney Comedy Festival 7:30PM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 16th Oct 2026 Lior with Camerata Lior with Camerata 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre