Maruku Arts

Maruku Arts

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
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) for over 30 years. 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.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • Serena N
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing experience!
    Fantastic experience! Well worth the price and knowing it's going to the community made it feel even better spent! Sharmane shared some tjukurpa with us while drawing in the sand, it was awe inspiring watching how she used a different number of fingers in different ways to draw various things. The interpreter/guide was really friendly, the painting and all round experience is definitely something I'll suggest to others to try!
    Palya ! Thank you, we are so glad you enjoyed the experience - Team Maruku.
    Written July 14, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 19, 2024
  • Kate
    Lytham, United Kingdom48 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dot painting journey
    I loved this experience! First we got to hear a story and the meaning about dot painting. Then we created are own story behind the dots. I did mine about my journey around Australia and we got to share with the group about you're own painting (optional). Best part is we was allowed to take them home :)
    Palya ! Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback - Team Maruku !
    Written July 14, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written June 6, 2024
  • Barbara P
    31 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting and fun.
    Wonderful experience, highly recommended. After a really interesting info session with Evelyn and Kiah (sorry about spelling) we were able to do our own dot painting and it was such fun. Evelyn meanwhile created a couple of new pieces and they were stunning. Palya.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written August 21, 2024
  • Lynda N
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Incredible Art experience.
    What an amazing experience, I felt so privileged to be a part of this experience. 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!
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written September 5, 2024
  • Nikita P
    Brisbane, Australia18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The BEST experience in Uluru if you want to immerse yourself in Aṉangu culture & history!
    We absolutely LOVED our experience with the Maruku Arts team. Lauren was so patient in helping me organise a Private Guided Kuniya Walk Tour & Dot Painting Workshop for one of my couples who were Eloping to Uluru. On the day our incredible guide and artist, Valerie (and our interpreter Iris) were both incredibly warm and kind -- it felt like we were being shown around this ancient land by family. It was such an incredible experience that we will all cherish for many years to come! Highly recommend!!!
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 12, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles152 reviews
Excellent
128
Very good
18
Average
5
Poor
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These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Rachel H
Hackham300 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
I decided at the last minute to do one of the dot painting workshop with Maruku Arts, held in the town square garden at Yulara Resort. It was one of the best decisions I had made on my red centre holiday. '

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.
Written January 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Adventurer647090
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
I went to this with my 9year old son and we both really enjoyed it. It's centrally located in the the town square, so easy to get to no matter where you're staying in the resort. An informative lesson from a traditional artist (translated via assistant) gives a meaningful and personal touch to the lesson. Ample time and guidance is given when it comes time to create your own story, and you then read your story to the rest of the group once done. A beautiful keepsake to take home and remember your trip by.
Written May 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Warren J
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
The Maruku Dot Painting is a wonderful, relaxed experience under the shady trees near the Yulara Town Square. Anangnu woman Sarah Dalby was the artist telling her story with the help of an interpreter at our Dot Painting session. Her ability to draw stories in the sand almost eclipsed her artistic ability on canvas. We were so impressed we purchased the painting she completed, and she was happy for us to take a photograph with her and her granddaughter holding it. At the end a talking stick was passed around so everyone could tell the story of their painting.
Written June 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Xiang Y.
Mascot, Australia6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
Aboriginal dot painting workshop, learn about Aboriginal culture and related history with friends from all over the world
Follow Aboriginal artists to make your own paintings, and freely use brushes and skewers on canvas
It is very worth participating, the venue is outdoors, behind Uluru Town Square
2023.10.28
Google
Written October 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Palya! Thankyou for taking the time to share your feedback, its wonderful to to hear connections you made whilst participating in the workshop and all you learnt. Safe Travels.
Written November 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Cessalee S
9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Friends
What a great experience! Yvette (proud Anangu woman) and Paulina shared such beautiful stories about the art and of the traditional stories of the Anangu people. It was a beautiful session and we were encouraged to use inspiration to create our stories too. Perfect way to spend a morning.
Written March 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jodz04
Adelaide, Australia273 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
I really enjoyed learning more about the Anangu culture through the stories in the sand that Sarah a local indigenous artist was sharing. The session was so interesting, engaging and educational. Then it was time for me to have a try, I was given a mini canvas and encouraged to create my own dot painting. At the end of the session we put all our paintings together and shared our stories with the group. A great activity for all ages.
Written May 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sharon
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
The whole session was excellent. Imogen was a very friendly and well organised host. We were thrilled to have Evelyn to demonstrate her painting style and to tell us about her stories and culture. We learnt such a lot and it has given us a new perspective on Uluru and the local indigenous people.
Written January 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Parso56
10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
Thank you for a wonderful experience today. We both enjoyed having a chance to create a piece of art based on the information that you and Bessie shared with us. After we left you we spoke to the women in the town and we were much more appreciative of the time effort and thought that went into creating their canvases
We did purchase a gorgeous canvas which will look great at home đź‘Ś
Written March 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paula G
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
3 of us did the dot painting workshop with Kylie and please forgive me but I
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
Written September 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JElliot32
New South Wales, Australia4,052 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
There are a few galleries within the Cultural Centre at Uluru and Maruku Arts was our favourite. They had a very wide selection of local indigenous artworks, artifacts and jewellery on display and you will find their prices are very reasonable. The gallery is not for profit, owned and operated by local indigenous people and represents artists from many small indigenous communities across the Central and Western Deserts, in the NT, WA and SA.
Written June 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Maruku Arts - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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