The Museum of the Riverina is bringing the icy landscapes of Antarctica to Wagga Wagga with ICE PACT, a new exhibition combining art, science and personal experience.
Featuring more than 30 artworks showcasing the enigmatic and pristine wilderness of Antarctica, the exhibition opens at the Museum's Historic Council Chambers site on Saturday 19 September.
ICE PACT explores themes including Antarctic exploration and scientific research, wildlife, geography, and the people who live and work on the continent.
Created by industrial chemist Jorg Metz and artists Ray Pearce and Deirdre Outhred, the exhibition was inspired by Metz's time as Laboratory Manager at Casey Station in Antarctica.
Together, their work presents a creative exploration of the continent and a call for environmental stewardship.
Museum Manager Tim Kurylowicz said the exhibition gives visitors an opportunity to experience these remote and important ecosystems in a new and engaging way.
"This exhibition transports visitors to the vast wilderness of Antarctica, a place so few people have the opportunity to experience firsthand," Mr Kurylowicz said.
"Through the complementary perspectives of art and science, ICE PACT highlights both the awe-inspiring beauty and the global importance of the continent and the Southern Ocean that encircles it."
The stunning exhibition examines the Antarctic Treaty System, a landmark 1959 agreement that underpins international cooperation in Antarctica and prioritises peaceful activity and scientific research.
It also considers calls to extend the Treaty's protections to the Southern Ocean, highlighting its ecological importance, role in climate regulation and the pressures it faces from human activity.
ICE PACT will be on display at the Museum of the Riverina – Historic Council Chambers site, on the corner of Baylis and Morrow Streets, from 19 September to 22 November 2026.
