Art & Culture Centres
AT THE HEART OF DAAF FOUNDATION
These Art Centres are at the heart of their communities, and of all that the DAAF Foundation does.
DAAF Foundation is a not for profit organisation owned and governed by over 90 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centre and Peak Body members from across the most remote regions of Australia.
Daphne Banyawarra from Ramingining, photo courtesy of Bula'bula Arts
WHAT IS AN ART & culture CENTRE?
Art Centres play an important role in maintaining and strengthening cultural practices. They operate as meeting places and offer opportunities for training, education, career pathways and enterprise.
The strengthening of Art Centres will ensure that Australia’s Indigenous art sector continues to flourish and excel.
Art Centre sales play a vital economic role in remote communities, often being the only externally generated source of income. Economic independence helps ensure the agency for people to live on their homelands, continuing the preservation of traditional practices, ceremonies, language, art and spirituality.
Art Centres provide a safe and supportive environment for artists and their families, contributing to the social and physical health of the community. This often includes many social benefits from assistance with health and medical requirements, through to aged care services, family business, education, legal, transport and financial management issues.
Art & culture centres are...
Places of Creativity
Fostering the creation of contemporary fine art.
Cultural Keeping Places
Art Centres dutifully put aside works of old and deceased artists for future reference by family and other community members.
Repositories of cultural knowledge
Art Centres are digitally recording images and documentation for community access now and by future generations.
Places for cultural rejuvenation
Art Centres are places where communities can renew cultural values and traditional lore.
Technological hubs in communities
Art Centres are often at the cutting edge of new technologies introduced through graphic design and multi-media.
Places that empower people
They are places where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is valued in both worlds. Connection to Country is maintained and strengthened. It is a place where communities can share their successes and engage with the wider community.
Employment and training facilities
Art Centres are a key provider of training and employment in Indigenous Communities. They are organisations that are Indigenous owned and operated, and generate income from outside of their communities. This means that they are not recirculating welfare payments.
FILM MAKERS
Many short documentary films are produced under the auspice of Art Centres which serve to inform and educate the wider community about Indigenous culture.
CONTRIBUTORS TO GDP
The 2007 Senate Inquiry, “Indigenous Arts – Securing the Future” identified that: ‘More recent estimates place the value of the Indigenous visual arts sector at $400- $500 million’.
2026 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Participating Art Centres:
OUR Art & culture centres MEMBERS...
NT
- Anindilyakwa Arts
- Artist of Ampilatwatja
- Bábbarra Women’s Centre
- Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka
- Bula’bula Arts Aboriginal Corporation
- Djilpin Arts
- Durrmu Arts Aboriginal Corporation
- Elcho Island Arts
- Engawala Art Centre
- Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts
- Hermannsburg Potters Aboriginal Corporation
- Ikuntji Artists Aboriginal Corporation
- Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre
- Injalak Arts and Crafts Association
- Inkwareny Artists of Yuelamu
- Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association
- Karungkarni Art and Culture
- Marrawuddi Arts and Culture
- Merrepen Arts Language and Culture
- Milingimbi Art and Culture
- Minyma Kutjara Arts Project
- Munupi Arts And Crafts Association
- Ngaruwanajirri Incorporated
- Ngukurr Arts
- Numbulwar Numburindi Arts
- Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre
- Papulankatkutja Artists
- Papunya Tjupi Arts
- Tangentyere Artists & Yarrenyty Arltere Artists
- Tiwi Designs Aboriginal Corporation
- Tjanpi Desert Weavers
- Utopia Art Centre
- Walkatjara Art
- Waralungku Arts
- Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
- Warnayaka Art & Cultural Aboriginal Corporation
QLD
SA
WA
VIC
PEAK BODIES
ASSOCIATE MEMBER
- Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists (NT)
- Gab Titui Cultural Centre (QLD)
- Spinifex Hill Studio (WA)
Artists on Country, Ulumbarru ranges in the distance. Image courtesy of Papunya Tjupi Arts
