The Vanuatu Cultural Centre (in bislama: Vanuatu Kaljoral Senta or VKS) is the national cultural institution of Vanuatu.

Located in the capital Port Vila opposite the National Parliament in Nambatu, VKS continues to play a very important role in the preservation, protection and promotion of the different aspects of the culture across the archipelago.

When you visit the VKS, you will learn about and see the traditional indigenous cultures of Vanuatu in their various aspects from sand drawing (image below) to music, land diving, kastom practices to indigenous knowledge.

You can also sample Vanuatu's contemporary arts and music through the "Sounds of Vanuatu" audio which fills with tropical jungle sounds and tribal chants to take home with you after your holiday.

VKS umbrellas:

  • the National Museum of Vanuatu
  • National Film and Sound Unit
  • Vanuatu Cultural and Historical Site Survey
  • National Archives
  • National Library
  • Public Library
  • Fieldworkers's Unit
  • Tafea Cultural Centre (Lenakel, Tanna)
  • Malekula Cultural Centre
  • VKS E-Press.

Visitors always welcome. If you're wondering what to do in Port Vila when it's raining, and are keen to learn about Vanuatu history, then VKS is a great spot to drop in, meet the friendly staff, and learn more about what makes the country tick.

Contact details

For more information reach out to the team on:

 

Frequently Asked Questions

The Vanuatu Cultural Centre in Port Vila is the national home for kastom knowledge, from sand drawing and music to land diving and indigenous practice. Displays and staff help visitors see that Vanuatu is many cultures, not one island stereotype. It is a useful first stop before village visits, because the objects and stories explain what you will later see in person. Contemporary arts and recordings sit alongside older collections.
The centre, with the National Museum, gathers artefacts, film, archives and field research from across the islands. A visit puts names and context to ceremonies, carving, sand drawing and the colonial story that shaped independence. Staff can point you toward island-specific traditions so you arrive informed rather than guessing. It is especially valuable if rain keeps you in town.
Allow at least an hour, and closer to two if you like to read labels and talk with staff. That is enough to see the main museum galleries and take in sand drawing or other featured displays. Combine it with the nearby civic area if you are already in Port Vila. It is an easy indoor stop on a wet or rest day.