A BIENNIAL FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGED ART

ON FROZEN LAKE NIPISSING

Shabogesic Beach, North Bay

February 10-24, 2023

Ice Follies Biennial is returning to frozen Lake Nipissing for two weeks in February 2023 continuing its rich history of presenting contemporary art in Northern Ontario’s coldest month. Lake Nipissing is not only the location for the event, it is also the festival’s inspiration. Ice Follies celebrates its 10th Edition with free performances, large-scale art installations, community engaged artworks and activities, and a curated look-back at the history of this one-of-a-kind festival. Come experience art the Northern Ontario way!

The festival is FREE to attend and open 24 hours a day from February 10 – 24, 2023.

 

10th Edition

For its 10th Edition, Ice Follies is returning bigger than ever! This year, Ice Follies will include workshops, tours, and various activations to fully celebrate this uniquely cool festival. Ice Follies has also expanded its reach by welcoming additional arts organizations to present works such as Trinity Square Video (Toronto, ON), Nipissing Regional Curatorial Collective (North Bay, ON), Between Pheasants Contemporary (Kerns Township, ON), and Nipissing University (North Bay, ON), and has commissioned two additional artist projects through a public call, totalling 13 artworks – our biggest year yet! The 10th edition of Ice Follies also includes three special retrospective projects, including an on-ice curated exhibition by Ice Follies founder Dermot Wilson, a digital web project by his daughter and artist, Imogen Clendinning, and a collaboration with downtown North Bay business showcasing historical Ice Follies images by the festival’s official photographer, Liz Lott.

 

Opening Night, February 10th, 2023

  • Opening Remarks — 6pm
  • Performance by Aanmitaagzi — 7pm
  • Free refreshments to warm you up!

 

Artworks

11 art projects made just for our icy festival. LEARN MORE.

Events

There are many events planned throughout the festival. LEARN MORE.

 

Family Day Events, February 20th, 2023

  • Free Kid-Friendly Tour — 11am (register HERE)
  • VOX on Ice — 1:30pm

 

Ice Follies Tours Throughout the Festival

$10 per person. Register for a tour HERE.

 

Off-Site Downtown Retrospective Tour by Liz Lott – 2004 to 2020 & Map

Learn more about Liz Lotts Downtown Retrospective Tour HERE

Merchandise

Our 10th Anniversary toques will be available for purchase on-location on opening night.

Toques will also be available at The Farm (154 Main Street W) during the festival dates from February 10th to 24th.

 

Book your Stay

Book your stay at the Homewood Suites by Hilton North Bay and get 20% off!

Call the hotel at 705-495-3000 and use the Booking Code: 0003072583, or simply copy and paste the URL below into your browser to access any special rates available for this corporate account.

Booking Link: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=YYBNOHW&corporateCode=0003072583
(Rates displayed will already have the 20% discount applied)

 

Book your Travel

From February 10th – 24th, Ontario Northland will also be providing 20% off on all bus fares to and from North Bay when you use the promotion code: NBIF23
Book your ticket now: https://ontarionorthland.ca/en

 

Get Involved

Contact info@icefollies.ca

Presenters

AANMITAAGZI

Aanmitaagzi is a multi-disciplinary professional artist-run company serving artists and community members from Nipissing First Nation and the surrounding area, linked to provincial and national networks. We are committed to fostering a vibrant arts community in Nipissing, nurturing historic Indigenous arts practices which span a middle ground between professional and community arts, and exploring how we can carry forward our practices in a meaningful contemporary context. Aanmitaagzi combines art making, education, professional development & social activism.

NEAR NORTH MOBILE MEDIA LAB

Near North Mobile Media Lab (N2M2L) is a media arts access centre that provides the tools media artists, students, filmmakers and audiences in Northern Ontario need to produce, present and enjoy contemporary media arts in all its forms.

WHITE WATER GALLERY

White Water Gallery is a not-for-profit Artist-Run Centre committed to supporting artistic practices that prioritize risk and innovation. Understanding the need to advance the public’s threshold for viewing contemporary art the gallery encourages outreach programming that promotes accessibility and shared knowledge.

Ice Follies Archives

Relive the magic of past Ice Follies events from 2004 – 2020 by exploring our past year’s archives.

Thank you to Our Funders