Tiwi By Design

A highly personalised cultural experience, ‘Tiwi By Design’ is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the busy day of one of the oldest and most artistically diverse art centres in Australia.

After disembarking in the Aboriginal community of Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island, meet your Tiwi guide who will escort you to Tiwi Design Art Centre where local artists and dancers will perform a traditional Welcome to Country with a smoking ceremony and totem dances.

Enjoy a typical Tiwi morning tea of damper and a cuppa whilst getting to know some of the Tiwi Island community members. A walking tour with your guide will take in some of the local painted buildings and the historic mission precinct where you will see the beautiful wooden Catholic church that featured in the 'Top End Wedding' movie. Visit the Patakijiyali Museum with your guide to learn the history of the Mission days, the Tiwi Creation story, Tiwi involvement in WWII and most importantly, (to the Tiwi!), celebrated football players!

After a rest and lunch in the shade, you’ll get to participate in an exclusive ‘behind-the-scenes’ screen printing workshop. Choose from contemporary or traditional Tiwi design to print onto a takehome t-shirt, tea towel or fabric – a wonderful souvenir of your Tiwi visit. There's some free time to browse the carvings, paintings and fabric, your best opportunity to purchase authentic Tiwi pieces at Island prices.

This is a leisurely day of absorbing the workings of a busy Indigenous art centre – you may see art pieces destined for international exhibitions, talk to artists who are carving or painting, and sometimes the ladies will be there weaving and chatting. It is always loud and busy with Tiwi people coming and going, Ngarukuruwala music playing on repeat. Take the time to connect, share where you’re from and which footy team you support, ask about the stories you see on the paintings, or ask the artists there to show you their work.