Originally founded in the early 1970s, the Erromango Cultural Association (ECA) was revived in 2008 after a hiatus by current and former Vanuatu Cultural Centre fieldworkers dedicated to recording and reviving traditional Erromangan culture. Since 2008, the Erromangan community has been involved in a number of (self-funded) cultural promotion activities.

The association’s objectives are:

• to record the culture including the traditional laws and norms of Erromango to ensure it continues to exist;
• to promote Erromangan culture by producing learning materials and holding workshops;
• to protect Erromangan communities by preserving their culture and their identity;
• to carry out any other activity that promotes and protects Erromangan culture.

The ECA works to promote traditional material culture (such as tapa making) both through workshops as well as through major artistic gatherings – all of which have been highly successful events. It has also been involved in an Australian Museum documentary about tapa(in 2008). The association also organises Port Vila-based simanlou (traditional governance) workshops.

Membership of the ECA is open to all people of Erromangan heritage, including those who are married to Erromangans. The ECA is managed by an executive committee endorsed by the Erromango Natmonuk Simanlou Council of Chiefs.

The Erromango Cultural Association was legally registered as a Charitable Association within the Republic of Vanuatu’s jurisdiction on 30 December 2008. The ECA’s Constitution is available here. A statement of assets and liabilities is published yearly.