Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art

Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, 460 Portage Avenue Unit 1, Winnipeg, MB.

Established in 1972, Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art is Canada’s oldest accredited ICA with a holistic mandate to support all aspects of art-making by presenting, producing and circulating contemporary art.

09/01/2026

🎉 Two more days until 'Plug In 50/10' officially launches! We spoke with former Executive Director Jon Tupper about his time at Plug In ICA and what initially drew him to the organization. He reminisces on being a young artist in Winnipeg and what the contemporary art scene looked like at the time before taking on the role of Executive Director from co-founders Suzanne Gillies and Doug Sigurdson.

Find out more about the extensive history in our semi-centennial anniversary publication, 'Plug In 50/10'. Launching on September 3, this book celebrates Plug In ICA’s fifty years of operation from 1972 to 2022, with an introduction by Meeka Walsh and contributions from previous directors: Suzanne Gillies, Doug Sigurdson, Jon Tupper, Wayne Baerwaldt, Gilles Hébert, Carol Phillips, Anthony Kiendl, Jenifer Papararo and Allison Yearwood. Lavishly illustrated and designed, this publication charts Plug In’s peregrinations from a small, transient artist-run centre to the internationally renown institute of contemporary art that it is today.

🌟 Join us at the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq on September 3, from 7 - 10PM to celebrate the launch of this publication.

Plug In ICA would like to thank the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq for being the official event sponsor for this celebration.

📸 : Images courtesy of Plug In ICA archives.

📢 With the 2026 Prairie Art Book Fair just two weeks away, we are excited to reveal the official programming schedule!Ge...
08/28/2026

📢 With the 2026 Prairie Art Book Fair just two weeks away, we are excited to reveal the official programming schedule!

Get ready for a weekend full of special events put on by exhibitors including readings, book launches, and zine workshops! There is something for everyone to enjoy ✨️

We are still looking for material donations to make programming possible such as:

- Watercolour paints & brushes
- Watercolour paper
- Liquid glue
- Pencils, erasers, scissors
- Fabric scraps
- Stickers

Materials can be dropped off at the Plug In ICA bookstore from Tuesday - Friday, 12 - 6 PM, where they will be used for our scheduled programs.

If you want to learn more about the Prairie Art Book Fair, click the 🖇️ link in our bio!

🖼 : Prairie Art Book Fair logos were designed in 2018 by Michael Dumontier and Neil Farber

⏳️ These are the final days to catch Sarah Anne Johnson's 'House on Fire' and what a run it's been! This gripping exhibi...
08/27/2026

⏳️ These are the final days to catch Sarah Anne Johnson's 'House on Fire' and what a run it's been! This gripping exhibition closes Saturday, August 29 but if you've got nothing planned tonight, join us for our first 'cinq à sept' at 5PM for some drinks and browse our bookstore before a final tour of the exhibition from 6 - 7PM. We hope to see you there! ✨️

Learn more about Sarah Anne Johnson and this exhibition through the 🖇️ link in our bio.

We would like to thank Michael Nesbitt for making this exhibition possible.

We are open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 12 - 6PM, Thursday from 12 - 8PM and Saturday from 12 - 5PM 🕔️



📸: 'House on Fire', Sarah Anne Johnson, installation view at Plug In ICA, 2026. Image courtesy of Karen Asher.

Plug In ICA's 50th anniversary celebration and publication launch is just around the corner and we can't wait! 🌟 📍 As we...
08/26/2026

Plug In ICA's 50th anniversary celebration and publication launch is just around the corner and we can't wait! 🌟

📍 As we gear up to celebrate this milestone, participate in our fun scavenger hunt that will have you walking all over downtown! Get up and get moving as we share daily clues on our stories where two complimentary copies of 'Plug In 50/10' are hiding in the city 👀 Follow along, figure out the clues, and find the book on September 3--the day of its release!

Launching on September 3, this book celebrates Plug In ICA’s fifty years of operation from 1972 to 2022, with an introduction by Meeka Walsh and contributions from previous directors: Suzanne Gillies, Doug Sigurdson, Jon Tupper, Wayne Baerwaldt, Gilles Hébert, Carol Phillips, Anthony Kiendl, Jenifer Papararo and Allison Yearwood. Lavishly illustrated and designed including 200 archival images, this publication charts Plug In’s peregrinations from a small, transient artist-run centre to the internationally renown institute of contemporary art that it is today.

🎉 Join us at the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq on September 3, from 7 - 10PM to celebrate the launch of this publication and the last 50 years of Plug In ICA!

This event has been made possible by the generous support of Jennifer Blumenthal and Danny Bubis, along with support for Dean Baldwin Lew’s installation from Marlene Stern and Peter Rae. We thank the Winnipeg Foundation for funding this project and WAG-Qaumajuq for sponsoring the venue.

📸: Images courtesy of Daisy Wu

🗓️ Only a few weeks left to catch 'House on Fire' before we say goodbye to this incredible exhibition on August 29, 2026...
08/13/2026

🗓️ Only a few weeks left to catch 'House on Fire' before we say goodbye to this incredible exhibition on August 29, 2026!

Sarah Anne Johnson invites audiences to explore her grandmother's story through multimedia works including sculptures, videos, and more. Learn about an obscure chapter in Canadian history that will intrigue and move you.

* Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will be closing at 6PM instead of 8PM tonight. Our regular Thursday hours will resume next week with something exciting on the way 👀

Learn more about Sarah Anne Johnson and this exhibition through the 🖇️ link in our bio.

We would like to thank Michael Nesbitt for making this exhibition possible.

We are open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 12 - 6PM, Thursday from 12 - 8PM and Saturday from 12 - 5PM 🕔️

📸: 'House on Fire', Sarah Anne Johnson, installation view at Plug In ICA, 2026. Image courtesy of Karen Asher.

Get excited, folks! Take a look at the 2026 Prairie Art Book Fair lineup of stellar exhibitors 🌟 🌎️ This year's fair fea...
08/11/2026

Get excited, folks! Take a look at the 2026 Prairie Art Book Fair lineup of stellar exhibitors 🌟

🌎️ This year's fair features over 15 exhibitors across Canada and beyond!
Come on down to the galleries starting September 11th to learn more about publishing in the Prairies, find a new favourite book, participate in events and mingle with local artists, writers and publishers.

Stay tuned for more info and the official schedule of our exciting Prairie Art Book Fair programming!

🎨 To make our PABF programming possible, we kindly ask for material donations such as:

- Watercolour paints & brushes
- Watercolour paper
- Liquid glue
- Pencils, erasers, scissors
- Fabric scraps
- Stickers

Materials can be dropped off at the Plug In ICA bookstore from Tuesday - Friday, 12 - 6 PM, where they will be used for our scheduled programs.

If you want to learn more about the Prairie Art Book Fair, click the 🖇️ link in our bio!

🖼 : Prairie Art Book Fair logos were designed in 2018 by Michael Dumontier and Neil Farber

08/07/2026

🏙️ We're taking a step back into the archive! We asked local artist Louis Bako about his favourite Plug In memory and what Plug In means to him.

In 2011, the exhibition 'My Winnipeg' travelled to France and was shown at La Maison Rouge. Curated by Paula Aisemberg, Sigrid Dahle, Hervé di Rosa, Noam Gonick, and Anthony Kiendl, the exhibition served as a deep dive into the rich history and originality of Winnipeg's art scene.

Find out more about the extensive history in our semi-centennial anniversary publication, 'Plug In 50/10'. Launching on September 3, this book celebrates Plug In ICA’s fifty years of operation from 1972 to 2022, with an introduction by Meeka Walsh and contributions from previous directors: Suzanne Gillies, Doug Sigurdson, Jon Tupper, Wayne Baerwaldt, Gilles Hébert, Carol Phillips, Anthony Kiendl, Jenifer Papararo and Allison Yearwood. Lavishly illustrated and designed, this publication charts Plug In’s peregrinations from a small, transient artist-run centre to the internationally renown institute of contemporary art that it is today.

🕺 Join us at the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq on September 3, from 7 - 10PM to celebrate the launch of this publication.

Plug In ICA would like to thank the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq for being the official event sponsor.

📸 : Installation images of the 'My Winnipeg' exhibition at La Maison Rouge featured in this video were taken by Anthony Kiendl.

08/07/2026

🏗️ We spoke with Anthony Kiendl, former Executive Director from 2006-2013, about the story behind Plug In ICA's new home on Portage Avenue. Officially open in 2010, the vibrant gallery space is the result of the care and dedication of many creative minds coming together.

Find out more about the extensive history in our semi-centennial anniversary publication, 'Plug In 50/10'. Launching on September 3, this book celebrates Plug In ICA’s fifty years of operation from 1972 to 2022, with an introduction by Meeka Walsh and contributions from previous directors: Suzanne Gillies, Doug Sigurdson, Jon Tupper, Wayne Baerwaldt, Gilles Hébert, Carol Phillips, Anthony Kiendl, Jenifer Papararo and Allison Yearwood. Lavishly illustrated and designed, this publication charts Plug In’s peregrinations from a small, transient artist-run centre to the internationally renown institute of contemporary art that it is today.

🕺 Join us at the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq on September 3, from 7 - 10PM to celebrate the launch of this publication.

Plug In ICA would like to thank the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq for being the official event sponsor.

📸 : Images courtesy of Plug In ICA archives.

👀 Have you spotted all the details in Sarah Anne Johnson's 'House on Fire'?This sculpture is filled with many hidden det...
08/07/2026

👀 Have you spotted all the details in Sarah Anne Johnson's 'House on Fire'?

This sculpture is filled with many hidden details. What's your favourite?

🏡🔥 'House on Fire' is on view until August 29, 2026.

Learn more about Sarah Anne Johnson and this exhibition through the 🔗 link in our bio.

We would like to thank Michael Nesbitt for making this exhibition possible.

We are open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 12 - 6PM, Thursday from 12 - 8PM and Saturday from 12 - 5PM 🕔️

📸: 'House on Fire', Sarah Anne Johnson, installation view at Plug In ICA, 2026. Image courtesy of Karen Asher.

✨️ We bid a (temporary!) goodbye to our Communications Coordinator, Bronwyn as she takes a brief pause away from her rol...
07/30/2026

✨️ We bid a (temporary!) goodbye to our Communications Coordinator, Bronwyn as she takes a brief pause away from her role!

Bronwyn first joined the Plug In team as a Summer Intern in 2021. She then returned in the role of Communications Coordinator in 2022. Since then she has been an integral part of the team and is always willing to lend a hand! We wish her luck as she heads to British Columbia to further her education.

In her absence, we would like to welcome Raquel Torres into the position of Communications Coordinator! Raquel recently joined us as the Communications Intern last fall and we look forward to welcoming her once again as she steps into this role. 💫

Address

460 Portage Avenue Unit 1
Winnipeg, MB
R3C0E8

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 6pm
Wednesday 12pm - 6pm
Thursday 12pm - 8pm
Friday 12pm - 6pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+12049421043

Website

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