New Adventures in Sound Art

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.

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.

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.

Upcoming Events

Sixteen Chimes
By Alexandre Klinke
June 20 to September 23, 2024. Open 10 am to 4 pm Thursday to Monday.
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 313 Highway 124, South River, Ontario
Pay by Donation

Sixteen Chimes employs aspects of generative art and sound spatialization, using individual chimes that can be manipulated by the audience, without the use of computers or audio speakers. The ever-changing musical piece creates an immersive sonic environment, where the public can observe different aspects that affect one’s listening experience.

Decomposing Piano Jam Sessions
Every Sunday between July 7 and August 25 at 2 pm
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 313 Highway 124, South River, Ontario
Pay by Donation

An interesting way to learn about improvisation is to play an instrument that is always changing.

Laurier Woods Soundwalk
Louise de Kiriline Lawrence Nature Festival
August 17, 2024, 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Laurier Woods, North Bay. Meet in the Parking lot at the end of Brule Street (just off Franklin Street).
FREE

Explore the sounds of Laurier Woods during the Louise de Kiriline Lawrence Nature Festival.

Sound Art Workshop
August 24, 2024, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 313 Highway 124, South River, Ontario
General $50, Click Here to Register

Learn how to record your voice, make short field recordings, edit your recordings and share your final creation at the end of the workshop. No experience with audio is necessary. Advance Registration required – limited capacity.

Borderline (Almaguin Highlands): Collective counter mapping through sonic geographies
By Jessica Thompson
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 313 Highway 124, South River, Ontario
Pay by Donation

Borderline is a critical mapmaking project that uses sound to illuminate social and economic differences in local geographies. Visitors to NAISA are invited to contribute to a large-scale soundmap of the Almaguin Highlands.

48 Hour Sound Art Challenge
October 18 to 20, 4 pm to 4 pm
Warbler’s Roost, 3785D Eagle Lake Road, South River, Ontario
General $283, includes 2 nights accommodation with breakfast.

Advance Registration Required

This weekend intensive invites artists to create a sound art miniature on a forested and lake-side property in the Almaguin Highlands.

The Sensation of Distribution
By Mitchell Akiyama and Brady Peters
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 313 Highway 124, South River, Ontario

Connecting the exploration of acoustic pipe resonance with a more domestic vernacular, this outdoor interactive installation is mounted to impersonate building furnace vents and pipe work erupting from the ground. The Sensation of Distribution re-invites visitors to explore the unnoticed or imminent sonic and aesthetic potential of our built environment.

Music, or Noise? by Bepi Crespan on NAISA Radio
Tune in on our web player or using your streaming player

Listen to NAISA Radio on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 to 10 pm (UTC-4) to Music, or Noise? a show mixed and curated by Bepi Crespan that provides a two hour snapshot of the latest in experimental composition, field recordings, and sound exploration.

The Moderns by Kevin Press on NAISA Radio
Tune in on our web player or using your streaming player

Monday to Friday from 8 to 11 pm (UTC-4) NAISA Radio will be airing episodes from The Moderns – Contemporary music from everywhere with host Kevin Press. Electronic music, sound art, new classical, free jazz and more. The program’s emphasis is on new releases and artist interviews. Presented courtesy of Radio Regent and themoderns.blog.