In the early 1980's The Aboriginal Arts Board of the Australia Council sent some money to Fitzroy Crossing to build an art centre. A small building tentatively took its place threateningly close to the highway, on the main thoroughfare past the town. Artists worked with very few resources and travellers bargained directly with the producers. The building was a modest concrete and tin structure with no windows. It took on the name Mangkaja , a Walmajarri word for the wet weather shelters which the artists built in the desert during the wet season. The building is also known locally as the "5O cent house", because its shape resembles a 5O cent coin. Recently this building was refurbished and is now used for community screenprinting, printmaking and pottery workshops.

Mangkaja started its life as an arm of Karrayili Adult Education Centre but has since grown into a fully fledged independent body. Today the Art Resource Centre is located in the town centre at Shop 4 Tarunda Supermarket Complex in Fitzroy Crossing. Mangkaja Arts is governed by a committee which meets regularly and the members are responsible for decisions affecting the development of the centre. The process of decision making is one which is taken seriously. Many of the artists are members of the Karrayili Adult Education Council and the skills which they have developed through this involvement has helped the Mangkaja committee work more effectively. The centre has been running now for around six years. It services artists from a wide area, with a wide range of needs and expectations.

contact: Mangkaja_Arts@bigpond.com

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