New Adventures in Sound Art (NAISA) is a non-profit media arts organization that operates the fully accessible NAISA North Media Arts Centre and Café at 313 Highway 124 in South River, Ontario, Canada. Arts presentation with a focus on sound and listening are the basis of its year-round exhibitions, online broadcasts and performances.
New Adventures in Sound Art is located in the traditional territory of the Anishinabewaki peoples covered by the Williams Treaty (1923) and Robinson-Huron Treaty (1850). New Adventures in Sound Art recognizes the significant ongoing contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to aural culture in Canada.
Read MoreThe objectives of NAISA are to foster awareness and understanding locally, as well as nationally and internationally, in the cultural vitality of experimental sound art in its myriad forms of expression. This objective is achieved through the exploration of new sound technologies in conjunction with the creation of cultural events and artifacts.
NAISA’s annual events include the Deep Wireless festival of Radio & Transmission Art, the Sound Travels Festival of Sound Art, the SOUNDplay festival and Springscapes. These events each have their individual artistic focal points while collectively they provide a comprehensive 12 month overview of experimental sound-based media art in Canada and beyond.
NAISA is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council and Canadian Heritage as well as contributions from its supporters. Click Here to make your contribution.
Current & Upcoming Events
April 3 to June 9, 2025. Open 10 am to 4 pm everyday except Tuesdays and Wednesdays
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 313 Highway 124, South River, Ontario
Pay by Donation
Almaguin Community Soundscapes is an exhibition that surrounds one with the sounds of spring using a multi-channel speaker system and recordings made by residents of the Almaguin Highlands. The spring season is a special time of the year in the region as the snow melts, the ice breaks up on the lakes and the arrival of insects and birds is loudly announced by the sounds made by peepers.
If you live in the Almaguin Highlands and wish to contribute spring soundscapes from your home then please get in touch (naisa at nasia dot ca). Listen to a selection of the recordings by visiting Aporee.org
To contribute sounds from a location you know in the Almaguin Highlands consult these guidelines or visit us at NAISA.
FREE
New Album released of pieces made from ice sounds by Canadian artists Shaughn Martel, Lina Choi, Genevieve Kiessling, Kyle Vanderlaan and Stephanie Dupuis.
Co-presented with the Near North Mobile Media Lab in North Bay as part of the Ice Follies Festival.
FREE
Compilation of Radio Art Works that examine the relationship of people and the natural world. Unheard and unexpected encounters with nature are brought to life in works by Omar Reyna (Canada), Emmie Tsumura (Canada), Marieke Van de ven (Holland), Andra McCartney (Canada), Matthew Driggs McMurray (USA) and Dann Disciglio (USA).
The video features a conversation with Jane Tingley, Hrysovlanti Maheras and NAISA Artistic Director Darren Copeland about the interactive multi-sensory art installation that is on exhibit until March 31, 2025 at NAISA.
There is Art in Our Nature
May 2 to 4, 2025
Warbler’s Roost, 3785D Eagle Lake Road, South River
$339 with two nights accommodation and $215 with no accommodation. Advance Registration Required.
The annual soundscape weekend intensive is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the local soundscape and learn how to record, edit and compose a piece made from field recordings. All levels of experience are welcome.
May 3, 2025, 12:00 am to 1:00 am
Listen on the Reveil Portal or on NAISA Radio
Reveil is a 24+1 hr radio broadcast that follows sunrise around the earth on Dawn Chorus Day, traveling west on live audio streams sent in by streamers at daybreak from their locations. Reveil brings city yards, remote rural sites, fresh and salt water bodies into communication, creating a collective audit of planetary soundworlds over one earth day.
Sound Culture
Deadline May 31, 2025
$5 submission fee
New Adventures in Sound Art (NAISA) invites artists of all ages and nationalities to submit works on the theme
How do the sounds of a community reflect and convey its ethics, philosophies and general way of life? How does the design of space and the sounds found there form the sonic identity and character of a community?
Monday to Friday, 6 PM EDT
Tune in on our web player or using your streaming player
NAISA Radio is delighted to announce that it will be broadcasting past highlights of the Radiophrenia Festival in Glasgow, Scotland. Catch the next edition of Radiphrenia April 7 to 20, 2025 with 24 hours of broadcasting on 87.9 FM in Glasgow and Online.
NAISA has a quiet co-working space with reliable internet that can be rented by the hour or the day. Useful for Zoom Meetings, Podcasting, Laptop work and Small private meetings. Click Here to Learn More.