The Foundation
Our mission
Established in 2018, Fondation Opale is the sole contemporary art centre dedicated to the promotion of Australian Aboriginal art in Europe.
Born from the desire of its founder Bérengère Primat to share her passion for the current creation of Australia’s First Peoples, the foundation is based on her collection of over 1,500 works by nearly 350 artists, making it one of the world’s largest collections of contemporary Aboriginal artists in private ownership.
The foundation is based in the heart of the Valais Alps, in Lens’ art centre (Lens/Crans-Montana). In its 900 m2 main space and a satellite space called Special Focus, it organises temporary exhibitions focusing on contemporary Aboriginal art, building bridges with modern and contemporary works of art from all over the world, based on the precept that art transcends borders.
Its aim is to give the visibility it deserves to contemporary Aboriginal art, described as “the last great artistic movement of the 20th century” by art critic Robert Hugues, and to help challenge a Eurocentric vision of art by offering its audiences an opening onto otherness, onto universal questions of the human condition, convinced that contemporary Aboriginal art speaks to all.
As well as being a place of experimentation and excellence in the visual arts, the art centre aims to bring people together, regularly opening up to other disciplines such as the performing arts, music, film and literature for one-off events. Each exhibition is accompanied by a mediation program including creative workshops, thematic tours, lectures and meetings with the artists.
Finally, Fondation Opale publishes catalogs and reference publications on contemporary Aboriginal art, and supports academic research projects and artists’ residencies. The art centre’s team works in close collaboration with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, art centres and communities whose work is presented. By carrying out all its projects with their explicit cultural permission, Fondation Opale places Australia’s First Peoples at the heart of its work.
Kids workshops
Every 1st Sunday of the month 10:30 am → 12 am
Every 3rd Wednesday of the month 2:30 pm → 4 pm
Supervised by our cultural mediator, each workshop begins with a short visit of the exhibition and an introduction to Australian Aboriginal culture and contemporary art. The kids are then inspired by a work exhibited and the surrounding nature to express their creativity.
Places are limited, registration:
info@fondationopale.ch
T +41 27 483 46 10
CHF 10.- / kid
Birthday workshops
On request, Fondation Opale welcomes kids for an original birthday party : our creative workshop on the theme of Aboriginal art starts after a snack with a birthday cake.
Duration : 2 hours (30 min snack + 1.5 hour workshop)
Maximum 15 kids, accompanied by at least one adult
Information and booking :
info@fondationopale.ch
T +41 27 483 46 10
CHF 20. – / kid
Intergenerational workshops
Join our exciting intergenerational workshops, where curious young minds and wise experiences meet. Together, explore the past and present through lively discussions, playful games and collaborative projects. A space where generations unite to learn and grow, an opportunity to bond. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Guided tours of the exhibitions
A cultural mediator accompanies the group in its discovery of the exhibition: works’ hidden secrets, keys to reading, interpretation guidance, exchange of points of view…
Maximum 30 people | Duration: 60 minutes
Public guided tours (in French)
Every 2nd Sunday of the month, 11:00 →12:00
CHF 15 per person + admission ticket
Private guided tours on request
In French or English. On request, a tour in German is possible, subject to the guide’s availability.
CHF 120 + reduced admission ticket
Information and booking:
info@fondationopale.ch
T +41 27 483 46 10
Activity booklet
To help them make the most of their visit, children are given a game book with which to explore the current exhibition in a playful way. Through observation, drawing and imagination, they discover the museum independently.
Ages 7 and up, free
Available from the art centre reception desk.
Smartify
Using visual recognition technology, the Smartify application completes the labels’ information, enabling you to learn more about each work.
Available in French, German and English, it can be downloaded free of charge from Smartphone (AppStore and Google Play).
Schools
Thanks to the support of Étincelles de Culture, a program run by the Canton of Valais’ Culture Department, Fondation Opale invites schools’ classes to take part in a guided tour adapted to the level of the class. A teacher’s guide is available on request.
Find out more about our special offers for schools on the Étincelles de culture website.
