Arnhem Northern & Kimberley Artists Aboriginal Corporation - ANKA

Arnhem Northern & Kimberley Artists Aboriginal Corporation - ANKA Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Arnhem Northern & Kimberley Artists Aboriginal Corporation - ANKA, Community Organization, 8 McMinn Street, Darwin.

ANKA is the Aboriginal-governed peak body for Aboriginal artists and art and culture centres in Arnhem Land, the Kimberley, Tiwi Islands and Darwin–Katherine regions

Read ANKA's submission to the Federal Government's consultation – https://anka.org.au/assets/Archive/Forums-Submission...
19/06/2026

Read ANKA's submission to the Federal Government's consultation – https://anka.org.au/assets/Archive/Forums-Submissions/ANKA-National-Cultural-Policy-submission-2026.pdf.

'The recommendations in this submission come directly from Aboriginal artists, arts workers and cultural leaders on the ground. Since 2001, ANKA has held four regional general meetings every year, before its AGM and annual conference, giving members a direct voice in setting priorities and electing their own representatives. What comes back from those meetings, year after year, is consistent: culture must come first, the next generation must be able to learn it and the institutions that make this possible must be properly resourced.

This is not a policy position ANKA has adopted. It is what ANKA members say in language, on Country and in community every time they meet.'

Image:
Model of art and culture centre governance created by participants at the ANKA Djalkiri summit, 2024

Working at an ANKA-supported art and culture centre and looking for funds to support a project? TADS (Training & Develop...
17/06/2026

Working at an ANKA-supported art and culture centre and looking for funds to support a project? TADS (Training & Development Support) opportunities now open! Up to $5,500 available.

If you’ve been thinking about an exchange, or have an idea you’d like to explore, get in touch.

🔗 See link in bio or 📩 [email protected]

highlight: Tunga cultural workshop at Ngaruwanajirri

An intergenerational tunga workshop at Ngaruwanajirri brought together Elders, artists, arts workers and young Tiwi women to share traditional knowledge, strengthen cultural practice and build skills for the future. From harvesting bark on Country to stitching finished tunga (bark baskets, unique to Tiwi culture), participants gained confidence, leadership skills and a deeper connection to this important Tiwi women's cultural tradition.

Images courtesy Ngaruwanajirri:
1 Barbara Tipiloura, Raphaelina Babui and Janie Puautjimi with harvested stringy bark
2 Marie Yvonne Tipuamantumirri, Raphaelina Babui, Janie Puautjimi, Lillian Kerinauia and Molly Munkara at the fire pit, removing the outer bark from the stringy bark
3 Janie Puautjimi, Raphaelina Babui, Marie Yvonne Tipuamantumirri, Barbara Tipiloura, Janie Tipuamantumirri, Lillian Kerinauia and Molly Munkara at the fire pit stitching the tunga
4 Janie Tipuamantumirri (left) helped by Molly Munkara to stitch her tunga

Working at an art and culture centre and looking for funds to support a project? TADS (Training & Development Support) o...
15/06/2026

Working at an art and culture centre and looking for funds to support a project? TADS (Training & Development Support) opportunities now open! Up to $5,500 available.

If you’ve been thinking about an exchange, or have an idea you’d like to explore, get in touch.

📩 [email protected]

highlight: Dadikwakwa-kwa Fashion Project from Anindilyakwa Arts, Groote Eylandt

Working alongside Anna Reynolds, 15 artists developed new fashion concepts and fabric selections for the evolving Dadikwakwa-kwa fashion collection.

Images courtesy of Anindilyakwa Arts and Anindilyakwa Media:
1 Sue Bara
2 Elizabeth Mamarika
3 Marcia Mamarika, Annabell Amagula, Danjibana Lalara, Anna Reynolds, Stephanie Durilla, Rita Bara and Bernadette Watt

10/06/2026

‘If you look at the art centre itself, the building, it is like a core foundation. A foundation of people that have the knowledge, no matter who you are, where you’re from … a place where people tell their stories through art … It is a core foundation of my ancestors.’
– Jacinta Burukumalawuy, Milingimbi Art and Culture Centre

Video:
Jacinta Burukumalawuy speaking at the presentation event, The University of Melbourne, Jun 2026

day 11: Thu 4 May The final day of the interstate program saw the AWEP participants visit Melbourne Museum, where they...
05/06/2026

day 11: Thu 4 May

The final day of the interstate program saw the AWEP participants visit Melbourne Museum, where they were generously hosted by Melanie Raberts, Collections Manager – First Peoples Collection, and colleagues.

The group then split for optional visits. One group visited Chapman Bailey, where Mark Chapman and the team shared insights into professional framing and mounting, including techniques for strapping and mounting bark paintings. Another group visited Spacecraft Studio, where Stewart Russell and Danica Miller welcomed participants to meet Kokatha and Nukunu artist Yhonnie Scarce and see artist Tam Parker of Kaiela Arts at work on a limited edition of prints.

By evening, it was time to head home. After two weeks of learning, exchange and connection across Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, the 2026 AWEP participants boarded their flights back to the Northern Territory, with some continuing on to Western Australia the next day.

Thank you to everyone who welcomed and shared their knowledge with the AWEP group throughout the program.

Images:
1 Ursula Marks Warnayaka Art - Lajamanu, Chapman & Bailiey
2 Mark Chapman & Walter Brooks Jilamara, Chapman & Bailiey
3 Melanie Raberts & Jacinta Burukumalawuy Milingimbi Art and Culture Centre, Melbourne Museum
4 Walter Brooks with a Melbourne Museum collections staff member
5 Colin Puruntatameri, Jilamara, ANKA Director & AWEP facilitator, with Stewart Russell, Spacecraft
6 The group at Spacecraft
7 Ursula Marks with AWEP coordinator, Honey Abbott

Creative Australia

04/06/2026

day 10: Wed 3 Jun

A joyful conclusion to one of many outstanding presentations in Melbourne, with Yolŋu woman Jacinta Burukumalawuy Milingimbi Art and Culture Centre sharing a dance at the end of her presentation.

day 10: Wed 3 Jun Wednesday was another big day for the AWEP participants in Melbourne, exploring two of Australia's l...
04/06/2026

day 10: Wed 3 Jun

Wednesday was another big day for the AWEP participants in Melbourne, exploring two of Australia's leading galleries before the evening's public presentations.

The day began at NGV International on St Kilda Rd, where the group was warmly welcomed by Sharn Geary, Curatorial Program and Engagement Manager, First Nations Art, and Genevieve Sullivan, Conservator of Indigenous Art. Participants were given behind-the-scenes access to the conservation laboratories, where conservators were at work caring for artworks and cultural materials. Genevieve shared valuable insights into conservation practice, including the decisions involved in framing and mounting works for exhibition and some of the ways that she works closely with artists and communities. The group also visited the remarkable ‘Art of the Pacific’ exhibition, which brought together cultural material and artworks from across the region.

After travelling by tram to NGV Australia at Federation Square, participants were welcomed by Jessica Clark, Senior Curator of First Nations Art. Jessica guided the group through the extraordinary ‘Bark salon’ exhibition, which particularly captivated the Tiwi arts workers, before introducing ‘FUTURE COUNTRY’, a major exhibition of new commissions by emerging First Nations artists.

All this before the evening's AWEP presentations, generously supported by the Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation. More on this event in the next update.

Our sincere thanks to everyone at the NGV who shared their time, knowledge and expertise with the AWEP group.

Images (1–6 National Gallery of Victoria)
1 Jessica Clark speaking about the ‘Bark salon’ installation
2 Raylene Millar Jilamara recognising works in the 'Bark salon'
3 Ursula Marks Warnayaka Art - Lajamanu with Genevieve Sullivan
4 The AWEP group with our hosts
5 The AWEP group with our hosts in the NGV's oversized artwork lift, used to move large-scale works between galleries and exhibition spaces
6 Angus Darcy Maningrida Arts & Culture with a sculpture by his father in the NGV Collection
7 Walter Brooks (Jilamara) on a tram
8 The group about to celebrate after their presentations that evening

day 9: Tue 2 JunToday the AWEP participants continued their Melbourne program with a morning at Grimwade Conservation...
02/06/2026

day 9: Tue 2 Jun

Today the AWEP participants continued their Melbourne program with a morning at Grimwade Conservation Services, building on yesterday's training and exploring practical approaches to caring for cultural materials in art and culture centres.

Following the annual AWEP lunch at Trinity College, the group visited the Potter Museum to view material from the Indigenous Art and Culture Collection at the University of Melbourne, including works and records from the Donald Thomson Collection. Prof Lisa Slade, Hugh Ramsay Chair of Australian Art History, and Ashley Perry, Repatriation Coordinator, engaged in thoughtful discussions about access to cultural materials, repatriation and the importance of reconnecting communities with collections and cultural knowledge.

The afternoon concluded with a visit to Grimwade Conservation Services, where Jordi Casasayas, Vanessa Kowalski and colleagues provided valuable insights into professional conservation practice and the specialist work undertaken to preserve cultural heritage materials.

Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise, knowledge and hospitality with the AWEP group today.

Images (1–5 at Grimwade Conservation Services):
1 Martina Baxter (Tiwi Designs) with Vanessa Kowalski
2 Jordi Casasayas with Angus Darcy (Maningrida Arts & Culture)
3 Jordi Casasayas discussing the framing and rehousing of paintings and mounting works on paper
4 Vanessa Kowalski discussing a bark painting from the Indigenous Art and Culture Collection
5 Martina Baxter and Philinka Dolby (Mowanjum Arts) looking at works from the collection
6 The group outside Trinity College

Trinity College, University of Melbourne

day 9: Tue 2 Jun The annual AWEP lunch, generously hosted by Trinity College, celebrated the long-standing partnership...
02/06/2026

day 9: Tue 2 Jun

The annual AWEP lunch, generously hosted by Trinity College, celebrated the long-standing partnership between ANKA and the Grimwade Centre at the University of Melbourne. Together, the two organisations co-design and deliver the postgraduate Specialist Certificate in Cross-cultural Conservation and Heritage.

Our sincere thanks to the Reverend Professor Russell Goulbourne, Warden and CEO; Scott Charles, Deputy Warden and Director of Advancement; and Dr Benjamin Thomas, Rusden Curator, Cultural Collections, for welcoming the group and sharing Trinity College's rich cultural collections.

After lunch, we visited the college's common room to view a remarkable suite of drawings by Yolŋu artist Wandjuk Marika, adding another layer to a day focused on cultural heritage, conservation and learning.

Trinity College, University of Melbourne

Address

8 McMinn Street
Darwin, NT
0800

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61889816134

Website

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