New Adventures in Sound Art (NAISA) is a non-profit organization, formerly based in Toronto but now in South River ON, that presents performances and installations spanning the entire spectrum of electroacoustic and experimental sound art. NAISA operates the NAISA North Media Arts Centre, located in the centre of the village of South River at 106 Ottawa Ave., a short distance from Algonquin Park, at the building formerly known as Renée’s Café and Bean There Café.

The NAISA North Media Arts Centre includes a large exhibition/performance space, a small café, and an artist residency space suitable for media art production/creation as well as visual art creation. The café offers fresh baked goodies by local baker Lois McLaren, homemade soup by Nadene Thériault-Copeland and serves Muskoka coffee by Muskoka Roastery Coffee Company.

NAISA’s annual events include: the Deep Wireless festival of Radio & Transmission Art from January 17 to mid-April, the Sound Travels festival of Sound Art from June to Labour Day, and the SOUNDplay festival from late-September to late-November.

The 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.

Upcoming Events

WAVES Playground and Table Piece
Presented for Culture Days
September 28 – 30, 2018, Friday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 106 Ottawa Ave, South River

The Culture Days presentation at NAISA North Media Arts Centre features two interactive works ‘WAVES Playground’ and ‘Table Piece’ by Dutch multi-disciplinary artists Petra Dubach and Mario van Horrik. The interactive audio-visual experience will teach you how sound travels through space and different materials. Fun for the entire family! The Sunday presentation includes a free artist talk at 1:30 pm. Details here.

Biidaaban: First Light, a virtual reality film
Produced by The National Film Board of Canada
October 4 – November 25, 2018, Thursday to Monday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 106 Ottawa Ave, South River

An interactive virtual reality film directed by Lisa Jackson, 3D art by Mathew Borrett and produced by National Film Board..

Rooted in the realm of Indigenous futurism, Biidaaban: First Light is an interactive VR time-jump into a highly realistic—and radically different—Toronto of tomorrow. As users explore this altered city now reclaimed by nature, they must think about their place in history and ultimately their role in the future. Details here.

Games in Sound: 3-D Audio Immersion Intensive
By Hector Centeno, Christine Webster and Darren Copeland
October 26 – 28, 2018
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 106 Ottawa Ave, South River and Warbler's Roost, 3785-D Eagle Lake Road, South River
$150 Registration for Workshop. $225 Registration includes 2 nights accommodation at Warbler's Roost

Explore Emerging Audio Platforms in this weekend workshop intensive that includes performances, screenings, interactive experiences, lectures, and rural soundscape recording ventures. Details here.

Videomusic 'Screaming'
October 26, 2018, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Go here for Advance Tickets
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 106 Ottawa Ave, South River

A videomusic screening and performance reflecting on periods of political menace and large scale disasters that sonically has moments of both pensive quiet and intense noise and that concludes with an intimate portrait of a heavy metal screaming face. Works by Christine Webster, Pierre-Luc Senécal, Chris Malloy and Geronimo Inutiq. Details here.