Ku Arts (Ananguku Arts and Culture Aboriginal Corporation) is South Australia’s peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and art centres.
The Ku Arts head office is located in Tarntanya/Adelaide on Kaurna Yarta. We acknowledge the Kaurna People as the Traditional Owners of this land and respect their living culture.
As an organisation working across South Australia and beyond, we acknowledge and pay our respects to the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nations in this country, and their peoples who are the traditional custodians of the lands and waters upon which we live, work, and create. We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture as the oldest continuing culture in the world and celebrate the diversity of language, culture, custom, ceremony and knowledge (lore) of First Peoples as Traditional Owners, custodians and communities with an ongoing connection across land, sea, and waterways.
We also acknowledge our founders, the artists of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, from whom we were given our name, Aṉanguku - for Aboriginal people.
ABOUT KU ARTS
ETHICAL BUSINESS
Ku Arts is a not-for-profit peak organisation returning 100% of proceeds from sales to artists.
Since its inception in 1998, Ku Arts (Ananguku Arts and Culture Aboriginal Corporation) has been led by a board of Aboriginal Directors. Initially working across the APY Lands, Ku Arts has grown to support artists across regional, remote, and metropolitan South Australia. The Ku Arts Board works in support of a strong and diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts sector centring the self-determination and wellbeing of artists.
ADVOCACY
Ensuring that the voices of artists, arts workers, and art centres are heard.
Ku Arts is a founding member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts and Culture Centre Alliance (The Alliance), a coalition of peak bodies representing regional and remote Indigenous artists across northern and central Australia.
As a supporting member of the Indigenous Art Code (IAC), Ku Arts acknowledge the IAC is essential for preserving the integrity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts sector by promoting transparent, fair, and ethical trade.
National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) aims to improve conditions of work and practice across the visual arts sector through advocacy, education and its Code of Practice. Ku Arts supports NAVA’s Reconciliation Action Plan in its commitment to embedding cultural competence into visual arts sector industry standards.
ART CENTRE SUPPORT
Keeping culture strong for future generations by supporting the success of Aboriginal-owned art centres.
Ku Arts supports the self-determination and ongoing sustainability of Aboriginal-owned art centres across South Australia by providing:
Governance training
Human resource services
Infrastructure upgrades
Training for staff and art workers
Wellbeing programs
ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
Supporting Aboriginal artists across regional, remote, and metropolitan South Australia.
Collaborating with communities and partner organisations, Ku Arts provides tailored creative and professional development opportunities for independent artists who are not represented by art centres. Prioritising access to quality materials, leading arts mentors, and on Country programming, Ku Arts ensures that artists have every opportunity for success.
Image: Alison Milyika Carroll, 2018. Photo by Alex Craig.
VISION
Strong arts, strong culture, strong communities.
Arts kunpu, tjukurpa kunpu, waltja tjuta kunpu.
We help keep arts centres strong, and our culture strong for our children.
Nganana kunpu kanyinma arts munu culture nganampa tjitji nganampa tjutaku.
— Alison Milyika Carroll, Anangu Mayatja, Ku Arts
Ku Arts story began in 1998 in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Artists and art centre managers of three art centres in operation at the time; Ernabella Arts in Pukatja, Kaltjiti Arts in Fregon and Iwantja Arts in Indulkana, and the emerging Minymaku Arts (now Tjala Arts) in Amata recognised the need and value of pooling resources to drive success. Out of this, Ananguku Arts was established (now known as Ku Arts).
In 2002, Ku Arts became incorporated and initiated the establishment of locally owned and governed art centres Tjungu Palya in Nyapari, Ninuku Arts in Kalka, and Mimili Maku Arts in Mimili.
In the early 2000’s, it became clear that there were independent Aboriginal artists in regions across South Australia, but they still needed the support and advocacy that an Aboriginal arts organisation could provide. As a result, in 2006, the Statewide Indigenous Community Arts Development (SICAD) Project to assist artists in regional areas was established. SICAD provides access to professional and creative skills development opportunities, enterprise development, and the creation of career pathways for artists across visual arts disciplines.
Today, Ku Arts, is proud to deliver programs and support to multiple locations across South Australia, working for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists who call the state home.
Under the direction of a First Nations board, Ku Arts works in support of a strong and diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts sector that champions the self-determination and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
Some key projects and programs Ku Arts has been involved in since 2004 include:
Roving arts workshop projects for artists in the western APY Lands.
Recruitment of art centre managers with specific fine art skills and teaching capacity.
Regional art workshops focusing on bringing men into art centres.
Start up and management of three art centres: Tjungu Palya (2004), Ninuku Arts (2004) and Mimili Maku Arts (2006).
Development of the Statewide Indigenous Community Artists’ Development (SICAD) project (2006).
Establishing the annual Our Mob exhibition (2006), with the Adelaide Festival Centre and Country Arts SA. Our Mob is a state-wide survey show of new work from South Australian artists.
Development of the APY Art Workers Program.
Major survey exhibitions including Tjukurpa Pulkatjara (2009) and Ngintaka (2014)
Construction and upgrades of infrastructure across the APY Lands
Establishing and presenting the first National Weaving Symposium in partnership with JamFactory (2025)
HISTORY
Ku Arts supports artists and art centres through tailored programs and projects, ensuring that artists have every opportunity for success.
Image: Sherrie Jones at a Ku Arts workshop, WOMADelaide, 2023. Photo by Nharla Photography.