The artists who live permanently at Ernabella include many who were born there or in Alice Springs, as well as many who were born in the bush more than sixty years ago. The country of these older residents could be a location anywhere in the area of the APY Lands, extending from Western Australia to many kilometres south and east of Ernabella. Irrespective of where people were born they retain their connection to the country of their mothers and fathers and grandmothers and grandfathers.

Ernabella artists have achieved distinction as hand loom weavers, batik artists, painters, print makers, ceramicists, screen printers, applied designers, wood carvers, creative makers of a variety of objects including hand woven spinifex baskets and large sculptural pieces, hand spun woollen mukata/beanies, and as creators of “art on a string” necklaces, bracelets and wall hangings using hand painted gumnuts and seeds.

Even though it has always as primarily been a women’s space, nowadays senior men work there as painters and younger men are working in the ceramics studio, which is a first for arts practice in the APY Lands. The men are re-defining the work that is produced by Ernabella and have introduced a new audience of fine art collectors who are captivated by the raw, tjukurpa-rich paintings of the senior men.

The centre is used by approximately 70 people of all ages and both sexes during the course of the year. A core group of approximately twenty artists comes every day to engage in at least one of the art practices described, and today painting is the main art form.

Ernabella art is in all major Australian state and national collections and overseas including the British Museum, the National Ethnographic Museum Osaka Japan, Edinburgh City Gallery etc and Artists have been winners and exhibitors in the annual NATSIAA, the Whyalla Santos Art Awards, Fremantle Print Award inter alia.

Ernabella artists have exhibited around the world at the Edinburgh Festival, CINAFE Chicago USA, the Australian Embassy Paris France, Commonwealth Institute London and Victoria and Albert Museum London UK and have been invited on exchanges to Japan, Indonesia, Singapore (Womad) Edinburgh (Festival)