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
September 13, 1 to 3 pm
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 313 Highway 124, South River, Ontario
FREE
September 12, 2026, 6:00 pm
Tickets $30, Reserve by September 10
Support NAISA and choose from a fixed menu with gluten free and vegan options
By Julia White
September 17 to November 30, 2026. Open 10 am to 4 pm Thursday to Monday
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 313 Highway 124, South River, Ontario.
Admission by Donation
’By the Light of the Wild Within’ is a new sound and sculpture installation that provides a sanctuary of calm and is a personal sonic journey around the wheel of the year. The immersive installation is an invitation to listen deeply- with both our ears and our hearts. Mystery sounds from other places and ‘wild cards’ are also woven in, offering an element of surprise.
In-Person and Online Artist Talk
By Julia White
September 17, 2026, 7:00 pm
In-Person at NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 313 Highway 124, South River, Ontario, Canada.
Online audiences register in advance for access.
Admission by Donation
Weekend-long Sound Art Intensive
October 16 to 18, 4 pm to 4 pm
Warbler’s Roost, 3785D Eagle Lake Road, South River, Ontario
$339 with 2 nights accommodation and $215 with no accommodation
The annual 48 hour Sound Art Challenge returns to Warbler’s Roost out on Deer Lake in Lount Township for a weekend long experience between October 16 and 18. Those wanting to explore sound art more deeply can join a group of audio adventurers for the weekend and make their own sound art piece amidst the fall colours in Northern Ontario.
The open-ended schedule allows participants to maximize time for personal exploration and self-guided creation in a peer environment. Experiment either with sophisticated tools like geophones, hydrophones and ambisonic sound recording rigs or bring your own gear and take advantage of the quiet environs.
with works featuring Mary McDonald & Sarah Tremlett
December 3 to 28, 2026. Open 10 am to 4 pm Thursday to Monday
NAISA North Media Arts Centre & Café, 313 Highway 124, South River, Ontario
Admission by Donation
Two Poetry Films created in collaboration with Sundridge multi-disciplinary storyteller Mary McDonald reveal the personal stories embedded in significant events of history.
with works featuring Mary McDonald, Sarah Tremlett, Nettie Wild, Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa & Hildegard Westerkamp
December 5, 2026, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Doors open at 6pm for Vegan and Gluten-Free Meals prior to the performance
In-Person at NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 313 Highway 124, South River, Ontario, Canada.
Online audiences register in advance for access.
Tickets $15
This in-person and on-line video screening features collaborative films that cross genres between sound art, poetry, abstract film, and documentary. As an entirety the films in the program are rooted in personal stories connected to significant events in history, such as wars, and in iconic cultural symbols. There will be a Q&A with the artists following the screening.
Interactive Installation
By Eric Powell
Permanent Installation open Thursday to Monday, 10 am to 4 pm
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 313 Highway 124, South River, Ontario.
Admission by Donation
Voice of the Water is an interactive rotary telephone-based listening station. Using sounds collected from inside the lakes and rivers around South River, Voice of the Water encourages listeners to connect with the local waterways as they explore the boundaries and overlaps between planes of existence. The Artist's goal is to create a venue for contemplation, catharsis, and a deeper engagement with the surrounding environment.
Call NAISA or Email to make a 2 hour (maximum) appointment. All types of weather. Dress Appropriately.
FREE
Go on a listening expedition to record underwater sounds in South River and vicinity. Equipped with a recorder, hydrophones and other sensitive microphones you will explore the sounds of water in intimate listening proximity. The sounds you record will be added to the Voice of the Water installation.
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.
While at NAISA enjoy a variety of home-made Gluten-free Treats, Vegan Lunches and Muskoka Roastery Coffee. Here's the menu.