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.
Bäpurru – artist memorial
The Milingimbi Artist Memorial was conceived in 2018, following the sudden death of an important artist, director and art worker. The memorial was made by representative artists from each of the resident clans in Milingimbi. Each artist etched a copper plate that...
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...
