Founded in 2007 by Dr. Emma Clarke and Wiradjuri elder Uncle David Murray, the Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre began as a small gallery in Sydney dedicated to showcasing authentic Indigenous Australian art. Born from a shared concern that Aboriginal artistic traditions were being commercialized without proper cultural context or fair compensation to artists, our centre established direct partnerships with remote Indigenous communities across Australia.
What started as a modest exhibition space has evolved into a comprehensive cultural institution that bridges traditional knowledge and contemporary expression. Over the past 18 years, we've expanded to include educational programs, artist residencies, and community outreach initiatives. Our digital archive now documents over 5,000 rock art sites and contemporary works, creating one of Australia's most extensive collections of Indigenous visual culture.
In 2015, we launched our "Art Back Home" program, which facilitates the return of significant cultural artifacts to their communities of origin while supporting the development of local keeping places and cultural centers in remote areas. Today, our centre stands as a collaborative space where Aboriginal artists, elders, scholars, and the broader public come together to ensure these ancient artistic traditions continue to thrive in the 21st century.
