Alanya: Creating opportunity through art

Alanya, meaning ‘looking good’ in new Ngaanyatjarra slang, is a project of their local creative hub Wilurarra Creative along with a number of supporters from outside of the community.

Alanya Magazine

Model: Peter Frazer. Photo and design: Kate O’Connor, Delvina Lawson. Copyright Wilurarra Creative. Source: Copyright Wilurarra Creative

The hot, dry region of central Australia is home to beautiful, vibrant colours of the earth, sky and nature. Now, it is also home to Australia's newest bold fashion magazine, 'Alanya'.

The very remote community of Warburton is situated an equal distance of 1000 kilometers from Alice Springs and Kalgoorlie, which are also the community's closest towns.

Alanya means 'looking good' in new Ngaanyatjarra slang and is a project of local creative hub Wilurarra Creative, along with a number of supporters from outside of the community.

With a population of just 500, high living costs, low school attendance, and an alarmingly low average age of death, organisations like Wilurarra Creative are essential to the community.

"In the Warburton community there's a low attendance rate at school and no TAFE, no university," Wilurarra Creative Director Silvano Giordano said.

Mr Giordano also said that the average age of death in the Warburton community is just 45, and over 40% of the population is between 16 and 30.

"We're the only place that can create meaningful opportunity for young people and that age group is about 40% of the population," he said.
Alanya Magazine
'Kungka' means 'girl' in Ngaanyatjarra. Model/design/layout: Vina May Nelson Source: Copyright Wilurarra Creative
The incredible first edition of Alanya was produced through a Beyond Gambling grant that Wilurarra Creative received, with all proceeds returning to the community.

"All the proceeds of the magazine go back into future creative projects - the next edition of the magazine and creative development for younger Ngaanyatjarra people,"

"It's all going back into the project and creating creative opportunities for younger people out here."

Between the glossy pages of the magazine itself, there are an array of pictures that showcase the beautiful country, fashion and people of the Ngaanyatjarra region.

It has taken two years to put together and all interested young people in the community participated in its creation in various ways.

As much as they would like to make it a regular magazine, Mr Giordano explains a lack of funds means it will be a bi-yearly project, and called for any sponsors or creatives interested in contributing to come forward.

"It takes time and investment to make these things happen. We'd like to make it a regular thing but it's a lot of work and needs to be community driven and driven by the young creative people," he said.

"Because we're so remote it's not like we can go around and have the face to face discussions with [stakeholders].

"If anyone wants to sell through art centers, distribute or promote Alanya through their networks, then we would be very appreciative."

To buy a copy of Alanya visit , and those interested in helping out can contact Mr Giordano directly at .


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3 min read
Published 2 September 2016 5:00pm
Updated 2 September 2016 6:05pm
By Madeline Hayman-Reber


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