Napranum artist Marsha Hall awarded 2026 Thancoupie Bursary

Phoebe Blogg Published July 9, 2026 at 6.45am (AWST)

arts

Thanakwithi woman Marsha Hall is the 2026 recipient of the Thancoupie Bursary Fund. Image: Wei’num Arts.

Napranum artist Marsha Hall has been named the 2026 recipient of the Thancoupie Bursary Fund (TBF), recognising her return to artistic practice after dedicating many years to raising her family, and her commitment to sharing Thanakwithi culture through art.

The announcement was made Thursday morning at CIAF's annual Thancoupie Bursary Fund breakfast in the tranquil garden surrounds of the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, home to Thancoupie's monumental bronze sculpture, The Lovers, The Sun and the Moon.

Now in its 15th year, the annual bursary announcement event honours the legacy of Dr Thancoupie Gloria Fletcher AO, a trailblazing Thaynakwith elder, celebrated ceramicist, cultural leader, and language warrior, by presenting a bursary of up to $5,000 to an emerging First Nation's artist or arts collective from the Western Cape York Peninsula.

The bursary was established in 2011 as Thancoupie's final wish to support emerging artists and arts workers from her region, encouraging them to pursue creative and professional development opportunities beyond their communities and to strengthen their cultural identity and pride.

TBF co-chair Paul Matthews said the event is a "deeply meaningful" opening to CIAF's program, uniting collectors, curators, family, friends, and supporters in remembrance and renewal.

"Thancoupie's vision was always one of empowerment—of creating pathways for young people to thrive culturally, creatively, and professionally," he said.

"The Bursary carries that vision forward each year, and this gathering reminds us of her enduring impact."

After stepping away from her professional art practice while raising her eight children, Hall has returned to painting this year, making the recognition especially significant.

As the 2026 TBF recipient, Hall joins the esteemed ranks of past winners, including 2025 winner Lockhart River artist Fiona Omeenyo (Cairns), Paul Bong, Natasha Davui, Zane Saunders, Vincent Babia, and Pormpuraaw Arts.

The Fund will also feature a booth in the CIAF Artisans Showcase at Tanks Arts Centre (9th to 12th of July).

Mr Matthews warmly invites festival-goers to visit the TBF booth during the Fair at Tanks Arts Centre and place bids on exclusive works, contributing to the future of First Nations art.