Programming
Near North Mobile Media Lab has offered media arts workshops in Northern Ontario for over a decade. Our programming has evolved over the years, expanding beyond standalone workshops into year-round initiatives, community partnerships, and dedicated creative spaces.
Today, workshops and training opportunities are delivered through our core programs and partners listed below.
Youth Media Arts Programs
We offer creative media arts workshops for youth through programs designed to encourage exploration, storytelling, and digital skill development.
Digital Creator North Bay
Digital Creator North Bay is a free, drop-in digital arts program for youth ages 11 to 19. Located at 108 Main Street East in Downtown North Bay, the space is open Tuesday through Thursday from 3 PM to 6 PM and provides a welcoming environment where youth can explore creative technologies and develop digital media skills with guidance from artist mentors.
Participants can experiment with a wide range of creative tools and activities including 3D printing, coding, graphic design, animation, videography, digital photography, podcasting, and audio recording. The program encourages curiosity, collaboration, and self-directed learning, allowing youth to explore their creative interests while building confidence and digital skills in a relaxed and supportive space.
New Voices Co-Design Lab
New Voices Co-Design Lab is a creative media arts program designed for newcomer and refugee youth ages 12 to 19. Through free workshop series held at the Near North Makerspace, participants learn how to share stories from their communities while developing digital media and storytelling skills in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Workshops introduce practical skills such as interviewing, audio and video recording, and editing digital media. Participants collaborate on creative projects that may include podcasts, short videos, or zines that explore family stories, cultural traditions, and newcomer experiences. The program encourages youth to build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and connect with peers through shared creative work.
Creative Programming for Youth and Adults
Near North Makerspace
The Near North Makerspace offers creative workshops and skill-sharing opportunities for both youth and adults in a welcoming community environment. Located in Downtown North Bay, the space provides access to tools, technologies, and studio areas where participants can experiment with new ideas, learn creative skills, and collaborate with others.
Workshops and learning sessions at the Makerspace are often artist-led or community-driven and may explore areas such as digital media production, fabrication, creative technology, and interdisciplinary arts. The space encourages hands-on experimentation, peer-to-peer learning, and collaboration, creating opportunities for participants of different ages and experience levels to build skills while connecting through shared creative interests.
Our Projects
North Bay Film
North Bay Film presents curated screenings of independent, international, and Canadian films at the Capitol Centre in Downtown North Bay throughout the fall and winter season. The series brings a wide range of cinematic voices to the community, showcasing films that audiences might not otherwise have the opportunity to see on the big screen.
Screenings often include special presentations, filmmaker conversations, and opportunities for audiences to engage with the stories and ideas behind the films. By creating a welcoming space for shared viewing experiences, North Bay Film helps build a vibrant film culture in Northern Ontario while connecting local audiences with cinema from around the world.
North Bay Film Festival
The North Bay Film Festival is an annual celebration of independent cinema that brings filmmakers and audiences together in Downtown North Bay. Held each November, the festival presents a curated program of Canadian and international films alongside filmmaker Q&As, industry conversations, and special community events.
The festival highlights emerging voices and distinctive storytelling while creating opportunities for artists and audiences to connect. By showcasing a diverse range of films and perspectives, the North Bay Film Festival contributes to the growth of film culture in Northern Ontario and strengthens connections between regional artists and the wider filmmaking community.
Ice Follies Biennial
Ice Follies is a biennial festival of contemporary and community-engaged art presented on frozen Lake Nipissing and along the North Bay waterfront. Produced collaboratively by Near North Mobile Media Lab, Aanmitaagzi, and White Water Gallery, the festival invites artists to create temporary, site-specific installations that respond to the landscape, environment, and cultural histories of the region.
Visitors explore the artworks by walking along the frozen lake and shoreline, encountering installations that transform the winter environment into a dynamic public gallery. Ice Follies creates a unique meeting point between art, place, and community, offering audiences an opportunity to experience contemporary art in one of Northern Ontario’s most distinctive natural settings.
Past Programming
Near North Mobile Media Lab has hosted many workshops, guest artist sessions, and community learning opportunities over the years. From filmmaking and digital media production to creative technology and storytelling, these workshops have helped artists, youth, and community members explore new skills and ideas.
Browse our archive to see examples of past workshops and creative programming.