Arlpwe Art and Culture Centre studio and gallery sits on Kaytetye Country in Alekarenge / Ali Curung, about 400 km north of Mparntwe / Alice Springs. We are a 100% Aboriginal owned not-for-profit, comprised of artists from the Kaytetye, Alyawarr, Warlpiri and Warumungu nations.
The name Arlpwe (pronounced ahl-boa) was chosen for the art centre by Traditional Owners at its establishment in 2008. Arlpwe is a Kaytetye name for the country north of Alekarenge. The name also relates to the Kaytetye word arlpware meaning ‘hanging’ or ‘hang something up’, and the Alyawarr words alpwart, meaning ‘uncovered’ or ‘uncover something exposed’, and arlpaw, meaning ‘wide, open waterless country’.
Arlpwe artists specialise in painting, taking inspiration from the landscape, time spent on country, native flora and fauna, and the Dreaming – Altyerre (Kaytetye), Altyerr (Alyawarr), Jukurrpa (Warlpiri), Wirnkarra (Warumungu).
The landscape surrounding Alekarenge is very important for Arlpwe artists. Local bush foods, bush medicines, water and animals are often the subject of their paintings. Artists are taught about the bush by the elders and their extended families and know plants by their traditional names, in our four languages. Alekarenge, means ‘belonging to the dog’, referring to the dog Dreaming site where the community is located.
Arlpwe Art and Culture Centre is 22 km east of the Stuart Highway, between Mparntwe and Tennant Creek.
