Home to Australia’s largest gallery, an amazing selection of independent galleries and a stellar cohort of exceptionally talented artists, Victoria’s art game is undeniably strong. And with some of the most incredible hot springs, stunning national parks and beautiful hiking trails in the country, our nature game is pretty darn strong too. Now, those two elements are being celebrated in one dedicated space: Where Art Meets Nature (WAMA), a spectacular new arts and environmental precinct in Halls Gap in the Grampians.
Found on a lush 16-hectare property, the beautiful new precinct has been designed to celebrate the intersection between nature and art (hence the name). Home to Australia’s first National Centre for Environmental Art (NCEA), the grounds also feature a botanic garden (Gariwerd/Grampians Endemic Botanic Garden), grasslands (Jallukar Native Grasslands), dreamy ephemeral wetlands and outdoor artworks. It's a place to come to breathe in the country air, and to be inspired and moved by the power of nature and the beauty of art.
The architecturally striking gallery (NCEA) was designed by MvS Architects and Taut Architects with sustainability in mind, featuring a climate-controlled art gallery, a retail space, a multipurpose room for workshops and events, a café serving coffee and more (there’s a no BYO policy, so don’t bother packing a picnic).
As you’d expect, the exhibitions housed in the gallery will celebrate, reflect or explore the subject of nature and our environment, with the inaugural exhibition (brought to life by Western Australian artist Jacobus Capone) asking us to consider our engagement with the world around us through multidisciplinary artworks incorporating performance, video installation, photography and painting.
It’s worth noting: there are no public transport options to the site, so the best way to get there is by car. (It’s a three-hour drive from Melbourne, so we’d suggest making a weekend of it and exploring some of the local wineries while you’re there.)
Keen? You can learn more and plan your visit over here.
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