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We invite you to join Maruku’s local Anangu artists for a fun introduction to the unique desert art form – Dot Painting in a 1.5 hour format.
Located in the Yulara village green town square, a minutes walk from Voyages Ayres Rock Resort accommodation and facilities.
Learn about the symbols and painting styles used to create beautiful works of art depicting the Creation time (Tjukurpa) stories.
Bringing a touch of something unexpected, colourful and a connection to the experience while celebrating and combining stories of people and places.
Be inspired and join the artists to complete your own story in painting which you will take home as a memento of your experience. An absorbing and fulfilling time for all ages and gender.
Children: Please note children (0-15 years) need to be accompanied by at least one paying adult.
Pending Bookings: Your booking will sit in pending until minimum workshop numbers (10 people) have been met.
Photographs: Photos of Anangu Artists can only be taken with consent of the Anangu Guide on the day.
Health and Safety: This is an outdoor experience, please ensure you have hat, sunscreen and water and appropriate footwear. There maybe times where you are exposed to sit/stand in direct sun. If you have any health email dotpainting@maruku.com.au prior to the commencement of the workshop.
Re Producing / teaching this workshop: The contents of this workshop is highly sacred and it is not for replication or re teachings by participants.
We are a proud Indigenous Tourism Champion and a not-for-profit art & craft corporation 100% owned and controlled by Anangu (Aboriginal people from the Central and Western deserts) celebrating its 40th year.
Approximately 900 artists make up the collective that is Maruku. We exist to benefit the artists, their families, their communities and play a key role in keeping the traditional cultural practices strong and alive throughout the Anangu lands. Maruku is a regional art centre and, therefore, a representative of Anangu culture and art.
Our commitment to excellence is driven by the fact that we are a direct link between Anangu culture and tourism to the area, a role we take seriously. We want to educate our visitors about Anangu culture and history; in turn cultivating respect and understanding for this ancient culture and its differences to our own. Sharing stories and passing on traditional methods of painting plays an important part in the sustainability of Aboriginal culture, the world oldest living culture.
Morning: April-September 11:00am – 12:30pm
October-Nov- March 10:00am – 11:30am
Afternoon: April-September 2:00pm-3:30pm
October-Nov- March 1:00pm- 2:30pm
Kick off point:
ARR – Opposite Maruku Market Stall, Town Square lawn area, 10 minutes prior to workshop start
Workshop Duration: One and a half (1.5) Hours
Inclusions:
Aboriginal (Anangu) Artist, workshop host, canvas and paints, symbol sheet tables and chairs.
What to bring:
The workshops are conducted in an outdoor shaded environment using acrylic paints, therefore please dress accordingly. Please ensure you bring water, hat and sunscreen.
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Samantha generously taught us about her Aṉangu culture and the symbols used in their Art. Iris was incredible in supporting Samantha and ourselves by translating. I came away feeling blessed to have been a part of this. And to have been able to share this amazing culture. I highly encourage everyone to take the time to appreciate the Aṉangu culture, art and learn their stories.
Palya!









The young lady in the art gallery was extremely helpful and personable!
Highly recommend both experiences!










We walked the base of Uluru in the morning and got to the workshop by 10.30 am! There were only the two of us and one other woman, so we got a great deal. The beautiful Aboriginal artist, Verne Wilson, was a young woman I'd met the previous evening at the Sunset BBQ tour. I'd bought one of her paintings there, titled 'Three Sisters', and the painting she did at the workshop was called 'Seven Sisters'. You won't be surprised to learn I bought that one too, for a very reasonable price knowing that I think 75% of the money went to Verne! It felt serendipitous and was wonderful to be able to sit and chat with Vern and watch her paint, as well as make a half-hearted attempt to do one myself.
Vern shared her knowledge of the symbolic nature of Aboriginal art in the sand before we began painting, which was fascinating.
My only small criticism would be that I had no idea what I was doing and really needed a little guidance from the lovely man who took the session (whose name I sadly can't remember!). I didn't know how to paint the dots but Jenny showed me.
Thank you Maruku Arts. A beautiful experience, worth every cent, and one I recall fondly now I'm back living on a narrowboat in the UK.


The information was interesting & well presented, it was great to hear & see everyone’s interpretation of their own story via this ancient method of storytelling I highly recommend doing it if you can.

We all had fun painting, which we got to take home. Well worth doing when visiting Uluru.



so, when you can combine a bit of learning with a good experience, what more can you want? Aboriginal art has its own language - and is different everywhere you go. It can tell a cultural story, or it can just tell a story! This workshop was good fun with the added bonus of helping build a greater understanding of the richness and depth of local knowledge which has been gained over 65000 years of living on country. Money well spent for people who like to listen and learn - and have fun. the artwork I created is a reminder of how talented the locals are !








This was a wonderful experience, learning and understanding about dot painting and Aboriginal culture and about this method as a way of story telling, then getting to apply our knowledge to our very own painting.
It felt very calming and therapeutic as an activity, and it was lovely being able to see a local artist at work in front of us, and be able to ask them questions too.
Great activity for adults and children alike, and very reasonably priced too.


Informative and creative.
Loved watching the artist so naturally and easily explain the symbols used.
It was so mindful and a great activity for all ages.
Liked the shared explanation of the group at the end.
Liked the opportunity to purchase Sarah’s painting (which we were lucky enough to do).




Then it was our turn. 90 mins of bliss.






We did purchase a gorgeous canvas which will look great at home






I have always wanted to learn more about indigenous culture and dot painting and this certainly fitted the bill! I don't have a huge budget and am certainly not an art snob in any way, but I did say that if I did buy art I wanted to buy it directly from the artist at the time.
Warmly welcomed by both the interpreter (Paulina) and the local indigenous artist herself (Evelyn). There was only one other person doing this workshop today so we both felt it not only a privilege but felt we got a more "one on one" experience which was amazing. Evelyn taught us some local indigenous symbols in the sand and learning some local words such as Piti, mala, kuniya, liru etc a few laughs too. We then got down to the painting itself. I am not artistic in any way but I did my best with lots of colour! While we were doing our painting Evelyn was painting one at the same time.
IT truly was a relaxing experience and I loved it! I was honoured to buy the artwork that Evelyn painted at a very reasonable price (discussed with the artist and interpreter directly) which possibly would have sold for twice as much through a gallery. Evelyn also gave me some local bush medicine which she had made herself (but sadly I can't remember what is in it).
Overall a very relaxing experience even for a non-artist like myself. I will definitely do another workshop if I am back at Uluru/yulara resort in the future! Highly recommended.














didn’t catch the ladies name working with her but she was a lovely host. I was with my disabled Aunt who will be celebrating her 70th birthday next month, Aunty Jen. Aunty Jen loved the workshop, she has taken her little masterpiece and framed it on her wall where she lives in care. The workshop was informative, we learnt about the different symbols used to portray places, people and things. We really loved the experience of painting using these symbols and creating our own to represent our own journeys. I think most people there could have quite happily sat all afternoon painting, I know we could have. Highly enjoyable, highly recommend. Thank you Ladies




