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, 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

ANKA recently celebrated the 2026 Arts Worker Extension Program (AWEP) graduates at a special graduation ceremony in Dar...
31/08/2026

ANKA recently celebrated the 2026 Arts Worker Extension Program (AWEP) graduates at a special graduation ceremony in Darwin.

The ceremony marked the achievements of this year’s 8 graduates, following an intensive year of professional development, learning and exchange across Darwin, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. 2026 is also a significant year for AWEP, with more than 100 Aboriginal arts workers now having graduated from the program since it began in 2011.

We were honoured to be joined by the Hon Jinson Charls MLA, NT Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, who gave a celebratory speech, alongside Justine Davis MLA and Chansey Paech MLA.

Guest speakers included Creative Australia’s Franchesca Cubillo, ANKA Chairperson Dr Djambawa Marawili AM and ANKA Deputy Chairperson Dora Griffiths, with ANKA directors, arts and culture sector colleagues, friends and supporters joining us to celebrate.

The graduation was an opportunity to recognise the commitment, leadership and growth of this year’s arts workers and celebrate the important role they play in their art and culture centres and communities.

This year's graduates are:
Martina Baxter – Tiwi Designs
Jacinta Burukumalawuy Milingimbi Art and Culture Centre
Angus Darcy Maningrida Arts & Culture
Philinka Dolby Mowanjum Arts
Ursula Marks Warnayaka Art - Lajamanu
Raylene White-Miller Jilamara
Theresa (Tara) Munkanome Bima Wear
Leah Nanala Warlayirti Artists - Balgo

Congratulations to the AWEP Class of 2026!

Images (photos: Courtney Jane Media):
1 Philinka Dolby
2 Theresa (Tara) Munkanome
3 Theresa (Tara) Munkanome and Raylene White-Miller
4 Ursula Marks, Leah Nanala and Philinka Dolby
5 MCs Martina Baxter and Jacinta Burukumalawuy
6 The group with the Hon Jinson Charls MLA and Justine Davis MLA
7 Dr Djambawa Marawili AM
8 Dora Griffiths
9 Franchesca Cubillo

Creative Australia Jinson Anto Charls MLA

Two art and culture centre manager opportunities are currently open at community-controlled, Aboriginal-governed centres...
29/08/2026

Two art and culture centre manager opportunities are currently open at community-controlled, Aboriginal-governed centres in the Kimberley and Arnhem Land.

Maningrida Arts & Culture, based in Maningrida, supports a diverse community of artists and cultural practices. The Manager will lead across artist support, artwork production and conservation, exhibitions, retail and online sales, financial and grant management, cultural tourism and community projects.

Mowanjum Arts, based in Derby, supports artists from Mowanjum and surrounding homelands across many distinct language groups. The centre is recognised as one of Australia’s leading centres for contemporary Aboriginal art and plays an important role in sustaining cultural practice and sharing the artistic traditions of the north-west Kimberley with audiences nationally and internationally.

Both are significant leadership roles supporting artists, cultural practice, strong teams and sustainable art and culture centre operations in remote communities.

If you have strong arts management experience and want to work alongside Aboriginal artists and communities in an Aboriginal-governed environment, these are two great opportunities to contribute to the sector.

Applications are now open. Find out more and apply via SEEK:

Mowanjum Arts: https://tinyurl.com/5h4xvc7z
Maningrida Arts & Culture: https://tinyurl.com/43hz97cy

Image:
Dancers at Mowanjum Festival, 2017

The ANKA Cultural Legacy Program and the wider ANKA family warmly CONGRATULATES MICHELLE PULATUWAYU WOODY MINNAPINNI of ...
05/08/2026

The ANKA Cultural Legacy Program and the wider ANKA family warmly CONGRATULATES MICHELLE PULATUWAYU WOODY MINNAPINNI of Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association for winning the Traditional Adornment Award at the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA). Her win was announced last night at the NIFA presentation awards at Deck Chair Cinema Darwin.

This is well deserved acknowledgement of Woody’s unwavering dedication to keeping Tiwi culture strong.

Respected elder Woody is a graduate of the ANKA Arts Worker Extension Program (AWEP), and through the ANKA AWEP PATHWAYS program of the University of Melbourne Specialist Certificate in Cross Cultural Conservation and Heritage co-designed with ANKA. She is currently the co-originator of the Muluwurri Museum. Woody is also a former long term ANKA Director.

Her Jilamara Arts colleagues celebrated her win with traditional Tiwi dance Yoi and song.

Work with us!ANKA seeks an experienced and hands-on Manager Art & Culture Sustainability.This senior position is pivotal...
05/08/2026

Work with us!

ANKA seeks an experienced and hands-on Manager Art & Culture Sustainability.

This senior position is pivotal in strengthening ANKA’s support for over 40 Aboriginal-owned art and culture centres and more than 6,000 artists across the Top End and Kimberley. You’ll work directly with boards of directors, managers, arts workers, artists and partner organisations to champion sustainability, drive sector resilience and support cultural integrity.

The role combines strategy, program management and relationship-building with practical, day-to-day support for Aboriginal art and culture centres and artists. It’s a rare opportunity to contribute to one of Australia’s most important Indigenous-led creative sectors.

Download the recruitment guide from our website https://anka.org.au/jobs or via link in bio.

Image:
ANKA Cultural Legacy Forum, 2016

Watch the recording of the Melbourne presentations and hear directly from emerging Aboriginal arts workers from across...
25/06/2026

Watch the recording of the Melbourne presentations and hear directly from emerging Aboriginal arts workers from across northern Australia about their communities, art and culture centres and their aspirations for the future.

With thanks to the Robert Cripps Institute for Cultural Materials Conservation for hosting the event and making the recording available online.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGBLl2YbdpY

Image (from left, University of Sydney):
Lynley Nargoodah Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency – graduate mentor, ANKA Director
Raylene Miller Jilamara
Jacinta Burukumalawuy Milingimbi Art and Culture Centre
Theresa (Tara) Munkanome Bima Wear
Martina Baxter (Tiwi Designs)
Ursula Marks Warnayaka Art - Lajamanu
Colin Puruntatameri Jilamara – facilitator, ANKA Director
Angus Darcy Maningrida Arts & Culture
Walter Brooks Jilamara – graduate mentor
Leah Nanala Warlayirti Artists - Balgo

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

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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