Tjukurba Art Gallery in Wiluna considers upgrade

At tonight’s meeting, the Shire of Wiluna council will refloat plans for a $300,000-plus upgrade of the Tjukurba Art Gallery with a landscaped woodworking area, a fire pit for storytelling, and food preparation facilities.

Last July, the council applied for $199,400 in Mid West Development Commission REDS funding, but did not progress the project any further. The commission has requested that the council resubmit timelines and milestones for the project.

Mr Gaffney said the “main ambition” of the $323,000 project was to attract tourism, citing the growing popularity of Aboriginal cultural tourism in Western Australia. Several talented Martu artists are based in Wiluna, and the town sits at the mouth of both the Gunbarrell Highway and the Canning Stock Route.

The funding application claims tourism numbers are growing every year.

“I also think it will create some employment opportunities once you get it going,” Mr Gaffney said.

If endorsed, the council will factor a $124,276 contribution into its 2021-22 capital works budget.