Warlayirti Artists supports the art and culture of the Kutjungka region through the production and sale of fine Indigenous art and activities that provide opportunities for intergenerational knowledge transfer and learning.

Warlayirti Artists operates from a community development framework implementing community development principles and processes to maximise the participation of the Indigenous staff, Committee and artists in the organisation.  

A program of governance training for the Warlayirti Artists Committee has been implemented since 2002 to develop the capacity of members to actively participate in managing the organisation.  In 2004 Warlayirti Artists was nominated for the inaugural Indigenous Governance Awards in recognition of it achievements in developing the corporate governance of the organisation.

Warlayirti Artists is guided by the following principles as articulated by the Committee and artists:

Kinti kinti (side by side) – that Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff, Committee members and artists work side by side to achieve goals and keep the organisation strong.

Purrka purrka (slowly, slowly) – that things are achieved slowly and carefully, one step at a time, to ensure everyone can participate, any risks can be managed and sustainability is achieved

Marrka wangka (strong talk) – that there is transparency in process and communication and that information is accessible to the Committee to make informed decisions to keep the organisation on track to achieve its goals.

History

Warlayirti Artists Aboriginal Corporation is a community-based not-for-profit organisation incorporated under the Commonwealth’s Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976.  This means that Warlayirti Artists is controlled and managed by a Committee of Aboriginal artists, which is elected annually by the members of Warlayirti Artists.

Warlayirti Artists was established in 1987 with the employment of the first coordinator, following the success of the first exhibition of Balgo art – Paintings from the Great Sandy Desert – at the Art Gallery of Western Australia in 1986. However, the first public paintings by Balgo artists were banners completed in 1981 for the celebration of Father Piele’s Silver Jubilee. Following this, people began painting on canvas board through the Catholic run Wirrumanu Adult Education and Training Centre.

Since 1987 the organisation has grown significantly and the artists represented by Warlayirti Artists have emerged as some of Australia’s leading contemporary Indigenous artists.  As a result Warlayirti Artists contributes significantly to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the Indigenous residents of the Kutjungka region.  It is the only organisation in the region which offers Indigenous people the opportunity to actively participate in the market economy.