Milingimbi is an island community
literally just off the coast of Arnhem Land in the far
north of Australia, approximately 400 km east of Darwin,
Northern Territory. A number of different clan groups exist
among the population of around 1,000 that call Milingimbi
home, including surrounding outstations (or homelands).
There is a long tradition of creative and cultural works – bark
paintings, carvings and weavings to name the most traditional.
Many of Milingimbi’s artists both past and present
are represented in collections locally and internationally.
Bark painting alone is said to have a tradition stretching
back thousands of years, long before the arrival of Europeans.
They have been officially recorded by balanda (non-Yolngu)
as having been commissioned as early as 1912, and were
collected during the 1920’s from the time the first
Methodist missionaries arrived.
Some missionaries encouraged the artists to use their
creative skills in the art and craft field as a commercial
activity, but it was’nt until the 1960’s
that it would become a major source of rupia (income)
for them. Of course many items made by the locals are
still used for practical and, most importantly, ceremonial
purposes.
Art Centre Staff and families
Visiting the Milingimbi Art & Craft Centre
PERMITS
To enter the Aboriginal Community of Milingimbi you will
need a permit
which allows you to visit.
The permits can be obtained through the Northern Land
Council.
For more information you can follow our link to the Northern
Land
Council web site.
To obtain a permit you can apply to NLC.
ART CENTRE VISIT
If it is your sole purpose to visit the Milingimbi Art & Craft
Centre
we can arrange a permit for you.
HOW DO YOU GET HERE?
There are a couple of ways you can travel to visit the
Milingimbi Art &
Craft Centre.
CAIRNS ROUTE
Step 1: Qantas Link will get you from Cairns to Gove
More information can be accessed via our links section
which will
direct you the Qantas web site.
Step 2: Gove to Milingimbi
Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) will get you from
Gove to Milingimbi
traveling via a few small Communities along the way.
To contact MAF please follow the links section
to the MAF web site.
DARWIN ROUTE
Darwin to Milingimbi
Air North will get you from Darwin to Milingimbi.
You will have a short stop in the Community of Maningrida,
and will
than board a MAF flight which will take you directly
to Milingimbi.
For further information follow our link to the Air North
web site. They
can organize the direct flight from Darwin to Milingimbi. |
