Image: Old Green House Art Centre early days
1985
Warmun artwork being produced and distributed through Waringgarri Arts Centre in Kununurra.
1990
Rover Thomas is featured in the Venice Bienniale, representing Australia and gaining international acclaim.
1994
Rover Thomas is featured in a solo show at the National Gallery of Australia’s Roads Cross exhibition.
26 October 1998
Warmun Art Centre is officially registered as a business in Warmun Community.
1999 – 2001
Sales grew from $0 (1998) to $650,000 in 2001.
2000
WAC won the ‘Arts and Media’ category of the WA Indigenous Business Award.
July 2001
All that big rain coming from top side (1991), a painting by Rover Thomas, sold by Sotheby’s to the National Gallery of Australia for a record $786,500.
Image: Old Warmun Art Group Photo
2003
The National Gallery of Victoria’s touring exhibition Rover Thomas: I Want To Paint features works from the Janet Holmes à Court collection.
21 June 2005
WAC separately incorporated as Warmun Art Aboriginal Corporation under the Commonwealth Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976.
June 2006
Opening of the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, featuring commissioned artwork by Warmun artist Lena Nyadbi, gaining local and international media coverage for the Art Centre and artist.
2007
Sales exceed $1 million for the first time in Warmun Art history.
2007 – 2008
New $1.65 million gallery premises built from a combination of Federal and State funding, and WAC’s savings.
Image: New Warmun Art Gallery
2008
WAC won the ‘Aboriginal Business of the Year’ as part of the East Kimberley Aboriginal Achievement Awards.
2010
Jirrawun Arts, an Aboriginal art company in Wyndham, closed its doors; causing many of its well-known Gija artists and members to paint for Warmun Art Centre, adding to its high profile.
2010
Warmun artist Peggy Patrick is awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her contributions to culture and for bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians together.
March 2011
Warmun declared a Natural Disaster Zone when Turkey Creek burst its banks and floods destroyed the community, causing emergency evacuation. Many paintings destroyed, damaged beyond repair and / or missing.
2011
Immediately after the flood, WAC artists continue to rebuild the business, and paint through assistance from Warringari Arts in Kununurra.
2013
The Musée du Quai Branly re-engages Lena Nyadbi by commissioning her Dayiwul Ngarranggarni (Barramundi Dreaming) artwork on the roof of the museum, which is spectacularly visible from atop the Eiffel Tower.
2013
Lena Nyadbi wins the East Kimberley Aboriginal Achievement Award for ‘Outstanding contribution towards Art & Culture.’
2014
WAC and the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation (CCMC) at the University of Melbourne forge an ongoing partnership; restoring artworks and building a Gija ‘two-way’ learning program for university students and Warmun community members.
2014
Lena Nyadbi wins the West Australian of the year – Aboriginal Award.
2015
Warmun Art Centre has an unprecedented four finalists for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA 2015) with artworks by Mabel Juli, Phyllis Thomas, Rammey Ramsey and Rusty Peters being shortlisted.
2016
Jirrawun Wirnan takes place at Warmun Art Centre; an official handover ceremony from Jirrawun Arts to Warmun Art.
2017
The Warmun Art 2018 Business Plan takes shape. There are over 70 artists actively involved with the Centre, with a record number of participants in over 25 events and exhibitions throughout the financial year.
2018
Warmun Art Centre celebrates its 20th anniversary and looks forward to continuing its important artistic and cultural legacy.