Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre

Address: 13 Paterson Street
Phone: 8962 2221

Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre

 In 1995 the Warumungu community of Tennant Creek decided to initiate the development of an art and culture centre, Nyiunkka Nyunyu, which opened in 2003.

After several years of consultation with elders, research and discussion, five key themes were decided upon to make up the backbone of the interpretive display for the  centre.

They were bush tucker and resources, land, language, history and punttu (family and skin relations). The centre also has the unique feature of having a sacred site of the Ancestral Nyinkka (spiny-tailed goanna) within our precinct. Along with the interpretive displays and the sacred site, there are many other activities led by our local staff.

Nyinkka activities revolve around various components of the precinct including:

·         Retail Gallery and Exhibition Space 

·         Performance Grounds 

·         Café and Bushtucker project 

·         Precinct tours

·         Art Production areas include carving, painting and making

·         Museum

·         Mirririnjtinjiki Resource centre for archives and the Mukurtu database,  

Nyinkka Nyunyu reopened after refurbishment work in April 2019 with men’s Putjjali and women’s Yawulyu dancing plus a smoking ceremony throughout the precinct and with some new-borns in the special baby smoking area of the precinct. The Centre continues to celebrate community, art and culture in Tennant Creek.

We work with the local schools and other Tennant Creek organisations in our programs whilst also engaging local Aboriginal people in job opportunities that share their

cultural heritage with visitors to Warumungu Country. Our guests come from all parts of Australia, and overseas and recent reviews and feedback have been glowing. 

Nyinkka Nyunyu continues to host a number of significant community forums, meetings and events and you can see the events and exhibitions program on our website www.nyinkkanyunyu.org.au

Drop into the Centre to say hello to the team and enjoy the ambience of our beautiful museum and grounds.

Nyinkka is proud to be a recipient of Arts NT Art Trail Infrastructure Funding, while Operational Funding continues to be generously provided by JCAC. The ongoing support of the Board and Management is central to our continued success