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

Ambient Tones and Dreams
By Jason Brock
June 30, 2018, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 106 Ottawa Ave, South River
General $10,

North Bay artist Jason Brock performs his cycle of pieces ”expressed in Ambient Tones - Songs, Soundscapes and Dreams" using the 12 String (Grand) Chapman Stick Touchboard controlling a Roland GR-55 Guitar Synthesizer.

Sound Machines, an exhibition of kinetic sculptures by Steven White
By Steven White
June 3 – September 3, 2018, Thursday to Monday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 106 Ottawa Ave, South River
FREE

This exhibition by multi-media artist Steven White from Walter's Falls, Ontario includes three interactive kinetic sound sculptures. They are made from a variety of found objects that are re-worked and un-designed to function in ways that are quite unlike their original function. Viewer interaction is a key component in these works that raise questions about obsolescence and the struggle between technology and nature.