A new Wama Foundation has opened near the Grampians (Gariwerd) mountain range in Pomonal, western Victoria, Australia, featuring the National Centre for Environmental Art and a native Australian botanical garden. The 16-hectare project, 14 years in the making, launched on July 5 with an exhibition titled 'End & Being' by Jacobus Capone, which uses pre-recorded performance art filmed on Mont Blanc glaciers to address climate change. The site also includes a feral-proof endemic plant garden serving as a seed bank for post-bushfire revegetation.
The opening marks a significant addition to the environmental art movement in Australia, combining a dedicated gallery for climate-focused art with ecological conservation. As a privately funded, not-for-profit venture, the centre relies on philanthropy and grants, offering free entry for children and modest ticket prices for adults. Its integration of art, native flora, and bushfire resilience highlights a growing trend of cultural institutions addressing environmental issues through direct, place-based action.