28 Oct 2010

Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art opening new facilities

Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is pleased to announce the opening of our new purpose-built facilities in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Plug In will open the building with a series of new exhibitions on November 6, 2010:

Eleanor Bond | Mountain of Shame
AA Bronson | We are the revolution
Adrian Stimson and Lori Blondeau | Putting the WILD Back into the West
Shezad Dawood | A Mystery Play

Grand Opening of Plug In ICA at 460 Portage Avenue: November 6, 2010, 7:00 p.m.

Established in 1972, Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art (Plug In ICA) is a centre for the presentation of art that confronts ideas and issues affecting contemporary society. Plug In seeks to engage visitors from all walks of life through award-winning exhibitions, publications, public programs, and professional development opportunities. Plug In ICA continues to evolve and build upon its role as a research institution, and proximity to the university campus will enhance research activities.

To foster the professional development of artists, every year Plug In hosts a Summer Institute, an artist's residency/art school program. Through the program, artists work on Plug In's premises, transforming the exhibition studio into an artists' studio.

460 Portage Avenue (co-owned and commissioned with the University of Winnipeg) was designed by a collective comprising three firms: David Penner Architect, Peter Sampson Architecture Studio and DIN Projects.

460 is conceived as actively participating in its environs while also allowing the city to be brought inside. A shortcut enables pedestrians to pass through the building without actually entering. This portal is programmed as a gallery space that will expose passers-by to the gallery's featured exhibits. A unique four storey interior space links the multiple occupants of the building in a manner that is both social and yet elusive, allowing simultaneous glimpses of goings on in disparate parts of the building. The process of revealing prepares the visitor for the building's other curiosities such as a rooftop terrace space that will permanently feature a new installation by Dan Graham. The overall architectural aim has therefore been to favour the experiential dimension rather than the formal qualities of the building as object.


Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art acknowledges the ongoing support of the Winnipeg Arts Council, the Manitoba Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Winnipeg Foundation, the WH and SE Loewen Foundation, supporters, members and volunteers.

Gallery Hours (beginning November 10): Wednesday to Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Administrative office hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Research Centre hours: Tuesday to Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Plug In Shop: www.plugin.org/shop