About ANKAAA

The Association of Northern Central Australian Aboriginal Artists ("ANCAAA") was originally established in March 1987, by 16 Aboriginal owned and controlled community art and craft centres from NT, WA and SA. Its main function was to foster the Aboriginal arts industry for the benefit of its artists and organisations. In 1992 the Central region incorporated to become Desart.

At this time ANCAAA changed its name to ANKAAA by substituting Kimberley for Central. Today, ANKAAA represents over 2,500 Artists from 34 art and craft centres located in the Tiwi Islands and the Darwin/Katherine, Kimberley, and Arnhem Land regions.

The main functions of ANKAAA have been to:

Foster and develop the Aboriginal Art Industry for the benefit of its member artists and their organisations
Provide industry specific information
Provide advice and direct practical assistance with bookkeeping, submissions, marketing contacts, employment issues, licence agreements, product development and e-commerce etc
Provide representation at an industry level
Provide advocacy, liaison and lobbying for the development of the Aboriginal Arts and Crafts Industry
Act as a contact/information point for government departments and agencies, institutions, art galleries and organizations, independent merchandisers, exhibition curators and other industry groups
Circulate information
Facilitate Aboriginal art training courses within the Northern Territory, promoting greater access to training for artists, through community workshops and structured certificated courses.
Network with other art support groups, promoting Aboriginal Art at a national level
Provide advice and referrals for Aboriginal copyright

ANKAAA's operational funding is provided by ATSIC through the National Arts & Crafts Industry Support Strategy (NACISS) program. This has been used to employ two full-time staff in the roles of Executive Officer and Development Officer. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Fund of the Australia Council provide funds for projects and some operational support. This funding has also been used to employ a part-time bookkeeper since August 2000.