Dear friends of Plug In,
Since 1972, Plug In ICA has existed as a platform for the creation and dissemination of art in both local and international arts communities. Together, we’ve supported hundreds of artists to create meaningful work that critically engages and reflects our wider social context. As members, you’ve fostered this dialogue and created space by way of free admission and access to contemporary art and art education tools. Being one of Canada’s oldest institutes of contemporary art, Plug In ICA has contributed pivotal and ambitious exhibitions such as Janet Cardiff + George Bures Millers’ The Paradise Institute, Plug In’s submission to the Venice Biennale in 2001; Close Encounters: The Next 500 Years (2011), a massive exhibition focussed on Indigenous artists spanning eleven galleries curated by Candice Hopkins, Steve Loft, Lee-Ann Martin and Jenny Western, and more recently STAGES, a biennale initiated by Jenifer Papararo presenting temporary public art sculptures and performances that engage with the place commonly known as Winnipeg. Throughout Plug In’s history, you as members have addressed community needs, pushing Plug In ICA to become an incubator for important arts organizations in Manitoba, such as Video Pool Media Arts Centre and MAWA (Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art. We passionately believe in the importance of interrogating where we sit as an organization and dismantling institutional identities to empower + enrich communities. Because of the continued support of members like you, we are able to continue operating as a not-for-profit exhibition space offering free programming + tools such as Interpreting [Interrupting] Youth, Summer Institute, artist talks, curriculum guides, and the Art Research Centre.
Join Us
This year, in celebration of half a century of programming, we’ve partnered with #GivingTuesday + CanadaHelps to raise funds so Plug In ICA can remain a free and accessible space to engage with critical, experimental, and dynamic work. Help us reach our $10,000 goal before #GivingTuesday, on November 30th, 2021, and support an extra magical 50th anniversary of Plug In ICA!
By providing even a small donation, you can join us in continuing to serve local, national, and international audiences with free admission to a variety of innovative programs and activities. Our donation process is quick and simple. Plus, upon donating, CanadaHelps will immediately issue you a tax receipt.
Share Your Story!
Whether you are a visitor, member, or artist, you’re part of Plug In ICA’s history and we want to hear your story! What’s your first memory of Plug In? What show has made an impact on you? Share your story on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter with the hashtag #PlugIn50, or email us at info@plugin.org. Free access to art programming is possible, but only with your support.
Sincerely yours,
Plug In ICA