Mangkaja Arts began as an arm of the Karrayill Adult Education Centre that was established in 1981.
Led by the local men, the centre’s purpose was to assist those wanting to learn English and provided a small space for men to study, paint their stories and organise bush trips.
There were very few resources and artists had to sell their own works. Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency was then incorporated in October of 1993.
Mangkaja is a Walmajarri word for shelters erected in the Great Sandy Desert during wet seasons.
It was named by Kumanjayi (deceased) Skipper, one of the founding members and his totem the echidna is featured in the Art Centres logo. The Art and Culture Centre is in the centre of Fitzroy Crossing on the Great Northern Highway 400km east of Broome and functions as a fine art gallery, speciality store and studio space for artists. .