ALL UPCOMING EVENTS
The Euchre Quilt Show
The Celtic Quilt Guild will be displaying their fabulous Euchre Quilt Show at ICCA!
A delight for euchre players and appreciators of beautiful, intricate quilts. The show opens on October 20th and will be shown in the corridor space. Admission is free, donations are appreciated.
Euchre decks featuring the quilts are available for purchase at the gift shop.
land remembers us
The Inverness County Centre for the Arts is pleased to present land remembers us: from the Arctic to the Caledonian’s, an ongoing photographic research-creation project by artist Julie Forgues.
Through photography, Forgues explores the deep connections between landscape, memory, and belonging, tracing the ancient Caledonian geological formation that links the Canadian Maritimes with Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, Greenland, and beyond. Her work focuses on transitional landscapes where nature and culture meet, inviting us to consider how our relationships to place extend beyond our own lived experiences and how unfamiliar landscapes can become deeply meaningful.
About the Artist: Julie Forgues holds an MFA in Studio Arts (Photography) from Concordia University and a BAV from Université de Moncton, where she has taught since 2000. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and she has participated in numerous artist residencies, including in Scotland, Iceland, Ireland, China, and the Arctic.
Exhibition Dates: November 8 – December 13
Artist Talk: November 8 at 1 PM
Opening Reception: November 8, 2–4 PM
Location: Inverness County Centre for the Arts, 16080 Highway 19, Inverness, NS
Admission: By donation
Gallery Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 12–5 PM
About Turn: Veterans Transforming Trauma
A STORY OF SERVICE, SACRIFICE & HEALING
ABOUT TURN: VETERANS TRANSFORMING TRAUMA
This Remembrance Day, join us for a powerful and deeply moving documentary that brings us face-to-face with the realities many veterans continue to live with long after their service ends.
Filmed over two years in and around Pipers Glen, Inverness and Sydney, About Turn: Veterans Transforming Trauma follows a group of Cape Breton veterans on their journey to recover from PTSD, rebuild their lives and find healing.
The film features retired Sgt. Fabian Henry, who runs Veterans For Healing, a clinic dedicated to helping veterans navigate their medical needs and the often-complex process of filing claims with Veterans Affairs.
Behind the scenes of recovery lies another battle: navigating a system where claims can be denied and appeals can take months—or even years—to resolve. Meanwhile, veterans face disproportionately high rates of suicide, underscoring the urgent need for understanding, support and meaningful change.
Intimate, honest and deeply human, About Turn is more than a film about trauma. It is a story of resilience, community and the ongoing responsibility we share to care for those who have served.
Veterans attend FREE.
Admission by donation.
Stay after the screening for a special Q&A with participants featured in the film and the filmmakers. Hear their stories, ask questions and take part in an important conversation about veterans' mental health, healing and the challenges they face.
This Remembrance Day, let’s honour veterans not only by remembering their service, but by listening to their stories and standing beside them in the struggles that continue long after they come home.
Remember. Listen. Support. Heal.
Elves Fair
Join us at the Inverness County Centre for the Arts for a magical day of local makers, handmade gifts, and holiday cheer. Find unique treasures, enjoy festive treats, and kick off your Christmas season surrounded by community spirit and creativity!
Eliza Rhinelander and Mitch Poirier
We’re so excited to welcome Eliza Rhinelander and Mitch Poirier for an evening of beautiful acoustic music this November!
Born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Eliza Rhinelander has been described by CBC’s Tom Power as “one of the most exciting songwriters coming out of the East Coast right now.” With deep Inverness County roots, Eliza’s music weaves together her Celtic heritage with powerful, enigmatic, and deeply folky lyrics.
Joining her is Mitch Poirier, originally from Inverness, an up-and-coming acoustic singer-songwriter whose music carries that unmistakable warmth of home.
Two musicians with Inverness roots, one cozy November evening!
Hallowe'en Masquerade
Get ready for a spooky night at ICCA! Our Halloween ball will be filled with fun Halloween cocktails, cash prizes for best costumes and great music!
Get ready for a spooky night at ICCA! Our Halloween ball will be filled with fun Halloween cocktails, cash prizes for best costumes and great music!
Boat: Photographs By Katherine Knight
Knight’s BOAT project began in 2009 with the gift of a model boat during a visit to coastal Newfoundland. In 2016, she began photographing model boats at sea, and by 2018 the project had developed into an extensive photographic research project exploring the significance of maritime modelmaking in Atlantic Canada.
The exhibition brings together photographs, artifacts, and stories of maritime model boats.
A beloved dory, a remembered ferry, a schooner stranded on ice, Knight photographs these miniature vessels at sea, on shore, and on display, using the camera’s ability to create and capture the uncanny.
Katherine knight- film screenings (night 2)
Katherine Knight- FIlm Screening (Night 2)
Join us for an evening of 2 film screenings by exhibiting photographer & filmmaker, Katherine Knight.
Saturday, Oct 10, 6pm-9pm, Film Screenings
Strange & Familiar: Architecture on Fogo Island. 52 mins. 2014. Co directed by Marcia Connolly and Katherine Knight
The stories of philanthropist Zita Cobb, architect Todd Saunders and community members emerge as Fogo Island Inn is built off the coast of Newfoundland.
KOOP: the art of Wanda Koop. 47 mins. 2011. Directed by Katherine Knight.
A seven day journey by freight boat along the St Lawrence reveals artist Wanda Koop's unique creative process and perspective.
Katherine Knight- Film Screening (Night 1)
Katherine Knight- Film Screening (Night 1)
Join us for an evening of 2 film screenings by exhibiting photographer & filmmaker, Katherine Knight.
Still Max, 74 mins. 2020. Directed. by Katherine Knight
Facing a diagnosis of prostate cancer, artist Max Dean asks, "how can we fix ourselves?"
Spring & Arnaud, 67 mins. 2013. Co directed by Marcia Connolly and Katherine Knight
Art, love and mortality intertwine in this intimate portrait of artists Spring Hurlbut and Arnaud Maggs.
Live MUSIC: The Hot Club of Dartmouth
Celebrate the first year of the Unama’ki / Cape Breton Film Festival with fine music by The Hot Club of Dartmouth! If you like swing, jazz, merriment, dancing and laughing and friends and film , then we highly suggest you don’t miss out!
The Hot Club of Dartmouth is a five piece all star band with Donald MacLennan (violin), Michael Dalton (guitar), Jordan Stephens (double bass), Matt Myer (trumpet), and Tom Richards (trombone).This is in conjunction with the U/CB Film Fest who is collaborating with Front Porch Farms!
For more information visit: https://www.unamakicapebretonfilmfestival.ca/events-1-1-1/concert
The Unama’ki/ Cape Breton Film Festival
Come celebrate U/CB Film Fest at Inverness County Centre For the Arts! A three-day event where diverse audiences and filmmakers connect around the compelling stories told through film that has meaningful links to Unama'ki / Cape Breton.
U/CB Film Fest showcases a wide variety of filmmaking styles. From documentaries and experimental works to more mainstream projects. This is
an exciting and immersive event for a broad audience that sparks conversations around the films and life in general. It
offers space for curious audiences to learn and reflect on the distinctive cultures and beauty that echo the spirit of the island.
Follow the link below to purchase tickets and view the films in this years schedule!
Ariana Nasr
Celebrate an evening of music with Ariana Nasr 🎶 Ariana is a versatile singer and multi-instrumentalist, dedicated to sharing her love of music through live performance. With a voice that transports listeners to another era, she has been delighting audiences for many years with her diverse musical offerings, spanning many styles and languages! Come out for a dynamic show featuring Ariana and her chromatic accordion as she takes you on an immersive experience!
Purchase Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/ariana-nasr
Jack Pine
Jack Pine is an indie-folk lone wolf: a Juno and Canadian Folk Music Awards nominated
singer-songwriter playing dynamic and gritty tunes with an amplified mandolin and
acoustic guitars.
With smoldering intensity, he sings out the beauty of the wreckage and the heart of the
wretch. His songs chase a ray of hope pulled straight from the daydreams of a
kind-heart.
When Jack takes the stage, you can't help but howl and sing along to his wry folk wisdom - at
once biting and inspiring - as his mandolin plays furiously then softly. Come out to some real good tunes for real dark times!
"Jack Pine: The Canadian musician worth ‘pining’ for"
Suzi Nash - Philadelphia Gay News
"
Jack is an incredible live performer with a wonderful energy, and a very engaging style"-
Jan Hall - Folk Roots Radio
Purchase Tickets!
https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/jack-pine
HERMINE FORD: From Here and From Away - Five Decades of Paintings and Drawings Inspired by Dunvegan
The Inverness County Centre for the Arts is pleased to present a new exhibition by internationally recognized artist Hermine Ford, featuring a body of work inspired by more than five decades of living and creating in Cape Breton.
Ford, who divides her time between New York City and Dunvegan, has spent over fifty years returning to Cape Breton. Created in her Cape Breton studio overlooking Margaree Island, the works in this exhibition explore the relationship between observation, memory, and abstraction through a deceptively simple subject: beach pebbles gathered during walks along the shoreline below her home.
What began as informal sketching exercises evolved into a central focus of Ford's artistic practice. She discovered that the pebbles' distinctive oval forms echoed the silhouette of Margaree Island, visible each day from her studio window. Rather than depicting the stones as recognizable objects, Ford transforms them into open-ended forms that invite viewers to bring their own interpretations to the work.
Pretty Archie - July 31st at ICCA
Pretty Archie featuring Caragh Kennedy
Come on out to this special event that will surely be a highlight of your summer!
Pretty Archie, is an Americana, bluegrass, blues, country, folk, songwriter group from Sydney. The group has long-been a regional favorite, with a stack of Music Nova Scotia and East Coast Music Award nominations to their credit. They bring the East Coast feel with their foot-stomping good tunes!
Local singer-songwriter Caragh Kennedy will be warming up the night (and our hearts!) with her evocative vocals and soul-cleansing lyrics.
Good music, food and vibes, bring your own chair and your best dancing shoes. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss out!
Location: Inverness County Centre For The Arts, 16080 Nova Scotia Trunk 19, Inverness, NS B0E 1N0
Date: Friday, July 31st 2026
Doors: 6:00 pm
$35 - Early Bird Tickets
$40 Advance Tickets
$45 at the door
Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/pretty-archie-w-caragh-kennedy
Outdoor event, please dress for the conditions and arrive early. Limited seating on site. Bar open. All donations support ICCA.
Brìghde Chaimbeul - July 28 at ICCA
Brìghde Chaimbeul
Brìghde Chaimbeul is a Scottish smallpipes player from the Isle of Skye whose music moves between Gàidhlig tradition and contemporary experimental sound. Working with drone, duration, and deep listening, she creates immersive performances rooted in a tradition she both inhabits and extends, set against a west coast sunset, weather permitting. Opening is PIT PONY, a collaboration blending tape, noise, and field recording into a sound shaped by cultural resilience in a community on the edge. Presented by Eltuek Arts Centre and Wild Lots, in partnership with ICCA and Beinn Mhàbu.
Location: Inverness County Centre For The Arts, 16080 Nova Scotia Trunk 19, Inverness, NS B0E 1N0
Date and time: Tue, Jul 28, 2026 6:30 PM AT
Organizer: Eltuek Arts Centre, (902) 539-9560, newdawn@newdawn.ca
$20 - Advance Tickets (General Admission)
Price: CA$20.00
Doors: 6:30 pm
PIT PONY: 7:15 pm
Brìghde Chaimbeul: approximately 8:00 pm, aligned with sunset <3
Outdoor event, weather permitting; please dress for the conditions and arrive early. Limited seating on site. Bar open. All donations support ICCA.
pOP-uP pETTING zOO WITH sIx little farmers
PoP-uP PETTING ZOO WITH SIX LITTLE FARMERS
ICCA is so excited to be hosting a pop-up petting zoo with six little farmers! This is our second year, taking place during Inverness’s Gathering week. All ages groups are welcomed, you might even make some new furry friends!
ARTIST TALK: Creating with Found Materials
Join us on Wednesday, July 22nd at 2 PM for a conversation with Mark Connors and Johanna Padelt, two artists exhibiting work in Hands Dancing, as they explore the creative possibilities of found materials.
About the artists:
Mark Connors is a multimedia artist based in Petit de Grat, Nova Scotia. Originally from Sudbury, Ontario, his practice spans abstract and representational painting, assemblage sculpture, and ambient music composition. His work has been exhibited widely across Ontario and Cape Breton, and he is an award-winning mixed media artist and active member of the Richmond Artist Alliance and the Inverness County Centre for the Arts.
Johanna Padelt discovered her passion for jewellery-making after moving to Cape Breton in 1971. A former English teacher, she now creates art from found materials while exploring memoir writing. A lifelong supporter of the arts, Johanna was a founding partner of Arts North in Cape North, served on the ICCA exhibition committee, and continues to contribute as a dedicated member of the ICCA Board.
Morning Yoga with Tessa Boucher
We’re excited to have yoga instructor Tessa Boucher with us this Saturday! Join us for a gentle morning class in our beautiful community space for a chance to slow down, stretch, breathe and reconnect! Whether you’re brand new to yoga or have an established practice, everyone is welcome!
HANDS DANCING 2026
ICCA is proud to present its highly anticipated Annual Members Exhibition: Hands Dancing. This year’s exhibition brings together a dynamic group of member artists from both near and far, showcasing a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, textiles, and more. Hands Dancing is a celebration of the incredible talents and generosity of ICCA’s membership and community. The exhibition is on display June 28-July 26, 2026 with opening reception on Sunday, June 28 2-4pm.
Dating back in the 1980’s, Hands Dancing was first exhibited at the Inverness Legion, then upstairs of the Inverness Post Office, and finally at ICCA since 2003. It is a beloved show ICCA, visitors, and the community look forward to year after year.
Sea Glass Festival
SEA GLASS FESTIVAL
ICCA is thrilled to present the second annual Sea Glass Fest!
Saturday, June 13th
10am-6pm
$5 Entrance Fee (Under 12 Free)
This unique celebration of coastal creativity and natural beauty promises to enchant art lovers, beachcombers, and families alike. The Sea Glass Festival will showcase stunning works of art and jewelry crafted from naturally weathered sea glass found along Cape Breton’s shores. The festival will feature local and regional artists, workshops, and educational talks about the history and ecology of sea glass. There will be a Sea Glass Shard contest, bring your best finds to be judged, you may win a prize! We will also have activities for kids!
More below!
Guest speakers and demonstrations will include:
Mike Baran - Sea Glass Archaeology;
Class is in session!
Over the years as a professional beachcomber Mike's recovered some unbelievable artifacts on the shorelines of Cape Breton. In this presentation Mike takes us on a trip though time as he shares the stories behind his favourite & most fascinating finds and the stories they tell.
How to drill sea glass!
Drilling Sea Glass for arts and crafts is something most beachcombers want to learn, but don't know where to begin.As the undisputed "World's fastest driller" (with over 1,000,000 shards successfully drilled), Mike's excited to share his simple and efficient techniques to provide everyone with the confidence needed to drill the perfect hole!
Invitation to bring your favourite finds:
Have you ever wondered what your beach-combing treasure started off as? The Inverness Sea Glass Festival is beyond excited to invite our guests to bring their favourite and unique beach-combing finds into the festival for Mike, the Sea Glass Archaeologist to offer his insights towards their possible origins! (As they're entered into the shard contest). Mike's unique abilities to trace his finds to their origins is why he's known as "The Sea Glass Archaeologist” He deeply loves sharing his passion and the knowledge he's acquired on glass history with fellow beachcombers in hopes to enhance the pastime for everyone!
Meaghan Landry- Licensed Sea Glass Photographer
Meaghan Landry is a lifelong beachcomber and licensed sea glass photographer. Meaghan will be sharing her expert tips and tricks on how to beautifully capture your sea glass treasures using just your mobile device. She’ll also be showcasing some prize pieces from her personal sea glass collection.
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned collector, you'll leave inspired and ready to take stunning photos - because with the right guidance, anyone can do it!
Be sure to check out her Instagram @seaglass_serenity for some seaside inspiration.
Willow Basket Weaving
WILLOW BASKET WEAVING
Make it stand out
june 3, 2026
10am-5pm
Pay-what-you-can
In this one day workshop you will make your own willow basket! Working from an already prepared round base, we will stake up, weave the sides, lay down a border and add a handle. While we are weaving, we will discuss basketmaking history, traditional methods and tools, current practices, growing willow, etc.
Come for a fun day of crafting and learning, leave with a beautiful basket, great for foraging, shopping and much more!
Participants should wear sturdy footwear (no open toes) and durable clothing, we will be using knives and other sharp tools. Participants should also bring their own lunch/snacks/drinks. We will pause for a lunch break and a mid afternoon snack break.
About the instructor:
Julia MacNeil is a willow basketmaker from Unama’ki/Cape Breton Island. Using cultivated basketry willows that are locally grown, she makes functional, beautiful baskets, with a mixture of traditional and contemporary influence. Her passion for baskets began nearly a decade ago, dabbling in wild basketry and learning from many wonderful books and video tutorials. She has spent the last several years deepening her knowledge and skills in willow basketry, taking classes from many renowned willow basketmakers, from North America and Europe.
Wednesday, June 3, 10AM-5PM
Inverness County Centre for the Arts
16080 Hwy 19, Inverness
Please note: spaces are limited. Email chichi@capebretoncraft.com to register.
This workshop is in partnership with Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design as part of Craft Week 2026.
Craft Week 2026 is a week-long celebration June 1-7, 2026, that exists to celebrate, showcase, and elevate the diverse and vibrant craft traditions of Unama’ki Cape Breton. Through a dynamic week of events, workshops, exhibitions, and community gatherings, Craft Week fosters connections between makers and learners, locally and beyond.
Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts for Craft Week 2026.
Craft Week workshops will be offered free or on a pay-what-you-can basis because we believe everyone deserves the chance to make, learn, and connect through craft. If you’re able to contribute, your support helps us continue offering opportunities like this. If not, we’re still so glad you’re joining us. If you’d like to contribute, you can send an e-transfer to info@capebretoncraft.com.
Find more Craft Week events and workshops here!
RONALD WILLIAMS- Ground Truthing: An Outside LIfe, Solitary Story, COllective Myth
RONALD WILLIAMS
GROUND TRUTHING: AN OUTSIDE LIFE, SOLITARY STORY, COLLECTIVE MYTH
OPENING RECEPTION- SUNDAY, MAY 17TH 2-4pm
Death at the Disco- An Interactive Murder Mystery Fundraiser
🎉 Excitement is in the air! Get ready to be part of something extraordinary at Inverness Arts Centre as we host a disco themed Murder Mystery fundraising event. It's an event like no other, and we want you to be there! 🎉
Every registration to this event will bring us closer to achieving our goal- to run more community focused programs, concerts and workshops!
Thank you for supporting ICCA, your generosity is invaluable.
Blues in the Night!
With these NS Government grants being cut we are feeling pretty BLUE! Come out and support your Arts Centre and have some fun!
Painting Class with Tommy Ryan: 8 Week Class
8 Week Painting Class with Tommy Ryan beginning Tuesday, March 24