Minyma Kutjara Arts Project is a nonprofit community art centre representing artists from Wingellina, a remote community situated near the tri-state border of the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and South Australia, and approximately 720 km (450 mi) south-west of Alice Springs. The surrounding landscape is arid, dry, and very remote. This group artists and their families will often travel through the country of their ancestors to hunt for food, collect plants for bush medicine, and gather grasses and seeds for basket weaving and jewellery making.

The original arts centre, Irrunytju Arts, opened in around 2000, and proved a huge success, both in Australia and internationally with artist Yamina Tommy Watson’s work chosen to be on permanent exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris.

This arts centre was closed in 2007 but reopened in 2012 as Minyma Kutjara Arts Project. In 2015, the Minyma Kutjara Arts Project presented a commissioned work for Tarnanthi, which was shown at the South Australian School of Art.

In 2020, funding was provided for Minyma Kutjara Arts Project to refurbish the original painting shed, buy more art materials, and employ a full-time manager.

The name of the arts centre derives from the story of the Minyma Kutjara (Two Women), a significant Tjukurpa often depicted and discussed in the artworks produced by the various artists. The artists belong to the Pitjantjatjara language and cultural group.

The previous art centre supported many renowned artists including Anmanari Brown, Nyukul Dawson, Ngiyu Watson, Kuntjil Cooper, Myra Cook, Yannima Tommy Watson, Wingu Tinguma, and Ivy Laidlaw amongst others.

Now, a new generation of artists, descendants of the early pioneering artists of the centre, are continuing the legacy of their forebears.

These emerging talents bring fresh perspectives to the same rich cultural narratives, interpreting and recording stories that have been passed down through generations. They draw from both traditional techniques and contemporary influences, weaving together the ancient and the modern in a dynamic fusion of art.

This vibrant group of next-generation artists is shaping the future of the arts centre, with each piece serving as a bridge between the past and the present, offering a glimpse into the evolving cultural landscape.

Their work highlights the enduring strength of cultural storytelling and the significance of art as a means of preserving and revitalising heritage, ensuring that the traditions of their people continue to thrive for years to come.