NATIONAL CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ART OPENS IN VICTORIA
09 Jul 2025
A unique art and environment precinct across a sprawling 16-hectare site has officially opened in the hills of Victoria. Known as the WAMA (Where Art Meets Nature) Foundation, the precinct includes the National Centre for Environmental Art - Australia’s first gallery exclusively dedicated to showcasing and reflecting on artistic narratives concerning the natural world - the Gariwerd/Grampians Endemic Botanic Garden, Jallukar Native Grasslands and new artwork commissions across its grounds.
The opening of the National Centre for Environmental Art is part of stage one of the launch of the broader hub, alongside the Gariwerd/Grampians Endemic Botanic Garden, plus new artwork around the grounds. Stage Two will further enhance the visitor experience with accessible boardwalks, engaging nature play areas and a sculpture trail to be unveiled in the future.
The Gariwerd/Grampians Endemic Botanic Garden features more than 500 plants and almost 60 species, with more than half only found in the surrounding region. The Gariwerd/Grampians region is one of the biodiversity hotspots of Victoria, containing over 30% of Victoria’s native flora.
Home to rare, endangered, and critically endangered species , the garden plays a vital role in conserving the region’s unique biodiversity. As climate change drives increasingly intense and frequent bushfires, the need to establish insurance populations of native flora has become urgent.
Wama Foundation CEO Pippa Mott shares her vision for the precinct and its impact. “Wama Foundation, nestled at the foothills of Gariwerd/Grampians National Park, will offer visitors an unparalleled opportunity to explore and deepen their understanding of connections between artistic expression and the natural world,” she says.
