It holds a notable place in the history of the contemporary Aboriginal art movement as one of the longest running Aboriginal art centres, having started as a small screen-printing group in 1968-69.
[2] Tiwi Designs began with a series of woodblock prints produced in a small room under the Catholic Presbytery in Nguiu in 1968.
[3] These were produced by young artists Bede Tungatalum and Giovanni Tipungwuti with aid from Madeline Clear, the local art teacher.
[5] Tiwi Designs’ first exhibition was held in 1971 at the Sebert Gallery in Sydney.
[8] The art centre today produces screen printed fabrics, ochre paintings on bark and canvas, ironwood carvings, ceramics, bronze and glass sculptures and limited edition prints.