Ruth Nalmakarra
Milingimbi Art & Culture, Milingimbi
Director, Arnhem Region
Qualifications & Achievements
ANKAAA Director (since 2007)
Executive Committee Member, Milingimbi Art & Culture (since 2005)
Certificate II in Indigenous Leadership, Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (2009)
ORIC Governance Training for ANKAAA Directors (2008)
Cultural & ceremonial leader
Assistant Manager, Milingimbi Art & Culture (since 2005)
ANKAAA Director (since 2007)
Executive Committee Member, Milingimbi Art & Culture (since 2005)
ORIC Governance Training (2008)
Board Member, Milingimbi Ganttjirrik Festival (2006)
Administration Assistant & Art Centre Worker, CDEP (2005)
Administration Assistant & Researcher, Elcho Island Knowledge Centre (2001 – 2003)
Teachers Aid & Tutor, Milingimbi Primary School (1988 – 1993)
Pattern Designer & Seamstress, Alpa Store (1970 – 1975)
Experienced public speaker
Computer & Literacy Training undertaken
A cultural & ceremonial leader, Ruth has been an ANKAAA Board Member since 2007. She has also been the Assistant Manager and an Executive Committee member at Milingimbi Arts, Arnhem Land since 2005. In 2006 she served on the board of the Milingimbi Ganttjirrik Festival, a cultural festival held in the community of Milingimbi. In 2005 she also worked as an Administration Assistant at the Art Centre through the CDEP program. From 2001 to 2003 Ruth worked as an Administration Assistant and Researcher at the Elcho Island Knowledge Centre, and from 1988 to 1993 she was Teachers Aid & Tutor at Milingimbi Primary School.
Ruth Nalmakarra is an established artist experienced in the mediums of painting and fibre art. Ruth has participated in numerous exhibitions and her work has been selected for the National Indigenous & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NIATSIAA) in the Bark Painting category.
In 2008 Ruth curated an exhibition at Mossenson Galleries, Melbourne, entitled Yunumu: The Garrawurra Artists of Milingimbi. The works Ruth selected relate to the Djirrididi body painting designs used in the Ngarra cleansing ceremony. In September 2009 Ruth conducted a cross-cultural training workshop for women from Milingimbi Arts and Kalumburu Arts Project, teaching traditional weaving techniques.
In 2007 Ruth completed a Financial Skills for Arts Organisations course with the Australia Council for the Arts (2 days). She undertook intensive governance training with ORIC in 2008 (4 days) and gained Certificate II in Indigenous Leadership through the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre, Canberra in 2009. Ruth represented the ANKAAA board at a Business Planning workshop at the Australia Council for the Arts Sydney in 2009, and has also completed computer literacy training.
These varied experiences have made Ruth an excellent public speaker and a strong ambassador for ANKAAA and Milingimbi Arts.
Languages Spoken:
Liyagawurrimina, Djambarrpuy and English
