In Yolŋu culture the land, family, ceremony, songs and art are connected. Milingimbi artists share these stories in fibre works, paintings on bark, ceremonial poles and carvings.
Our Cultural Heritage
Artwork from Milingimbi was commissioned as early as 1912, and was collected during the 1920s when the first Methodist missionaries arrived. By the 1960s the centre was a leader in establishing the market for traditional Yolŋu art. As a result art from Milingimbi is included in significant national and international collections. The centre continues the long tradition of producing high quality works, including bark paintings, carvings and weaving.
For contemporary Yolŋu, these artworks are living pieces of cultural heritage that have an ongoing importance in Yolŋu social life.
Milingimbi Art and Culture Centre is housed in a historical building made of mud bricks; it was constructed in the 1930s.
Yuttu Dugitj – growing together – Koskela lampshade
The literal meaning of Yuttu Dugitj can be both ‘a seed growing’ or ‘a grey hair sprouting.’ Margaret Gamuti explains that Yuttu Dugitj is also a metaphor for the senior and young women coming together at their art centre to share skills and ideas, to work...
Reinvigorating the MECA collection
Reinvigorating the MECA Collection is a collaboration between Milingimbi Art and Culture, CDU Art Collection and Art Gallery, CDU’s Yolngu Studies and Bula’bula Arts. It brings together a stunning selection of 64 works from the Milingimbi Education and Cultural...
The MECA Collection conservation project
First published by Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material 18 December 2018Author - Carolyn McLennan, Freelance Conservator, supporting people caring for collections in regional and remote areas of the Northern Territory. The past...
