Art Centre Manager

Exciting leadership opportunity at a leading Kimberley Aboriginal art centre, Yarliyil Art Centre.

Art Centre Manager

The Manager is responsible for effective operations, systems and policies and procedures at Yarliyil Art Centre. They will support and encourage the development of artworks, mentor artists and assist their vision for cultural maintenance and development.  The Manager will need to have strong administration skills alongside a strong sense of aesthetics, with experience in arts development and/or marketing desirable.

Respect and understanding of cross-cultural environments are important and knowledge of contemporary Aboriginal art would be an advantage. Applicants will need to be confident in working autonomously, while recognising and nurturing the relationships necessary for the success of Yarliyil Art Centre.  The ability to live and work in an isolated and challenging environment is essential.

Yarliyil Art Centre

Yarliyil Art Centre is based in the township of Halls Creek in the Central Kimberley region of Western Australia, 360km southwest of Kununurra and 680 km east of Broome. Situated on the Great Northern Hwy, Halls Creek is near the intersection of the Tanami Road and Canning Stock Route and at the northern edge of the Tanami and Great Sandy Deserts.

The central Kimberley boasts a long and rich history of Aboriginal art, with the Halls Creek Shire also encompassing Warmun Art Centre in Turkey Creek, Warlayirti Arts in Balgo Hills and Laari Gallery at Yiyili Community.

Yarliyil Art Centre was formed in 1998 and operates from a modern purpose-built gallery and studio on the Great Northern Highway by the creek at the eastern end of the township.

Yarliyil Art Centre is an Aboriginal owned enterprise and has more than 100 artist practicing in a wide range of styles and mediums. Artists at the centre paint and express stories of history, people, the country and cultural connection.

The name Yarliyil is the Jaru word for a small paperbark tree, a tree used for shelter when people lived a traditional lifestyle. Given its location, Yarliyil Art Centre attracts a diverse group of artists connected with many different language groups, predominantly Jaru, Gija and Walmajarri.

There is funding for two fulltime positions at Yarliyil Art Centre: the Manager (recurrent funded through the IVIAS program) and the Assistant Manager (recurrent funded through the Indigenous employment program).  There is scope for Yarliyil to employ an additional part time Sales and Marketing Officer to further grow Yarliyil’s sales.  The scope of this position will be linked to generating additional sales.  As such, Yarliyil encourages applications from couples who are interested in the Manager role and the new sales role.  Further, there are numerous employment opportunities throughout the Halls Creek community, with both government agencies and small businesses.