Artful Ice Shanties Design-Build Competition

View the photo gallery and watch the video from this event here.

The Artful Ice Shanties Design-Build Competition is a celebration of the artistic talent and creative ingenuity of our region as well as the long history and tradition of ice fishing at the Retreat Meadows. Presented by the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center and Retreat Farm in conjunction with Ice Shanties: Fishing, People & Culture, and Erik Hoffner: Ice Visions, this inaugural event is a timely observance of the delightful possibilities of winter, at a time when being outdoors is safest.

The Artful Ice Shanties will be displayed at Retreat Farm February 13-28. Most of the shanties will be displayed on solid ground in front of Retreat Farm, with a few placed on the Retreat Meadows ice. During your visit, you are welcome to hike or snowshoe on the Retreat Farm trails, visit Carlos the ox and the other outdoor animals, go cross-country skiing, go ice skating on the Retreat Meadows (weather permitting), and purchase a raffle ticket to be entered to win an Ice Shanty Quilt created and donated by Suzie Walker. 

Join us at noon on Sunday, February 14, for a wintry, wonderful outdoor Awards Ceremony where a panel of local judges will give out an array of awards for ice shanties with notably artistic, inventive, or silly qualities.

This project was inspired in part by Art Shanty Projects in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

ADMISSION: Free. Space for ice shanties is limited, so if you plan to build one, please register as soon as possible.

Questions? Contact Bobolink Communications at bobolinkvermont@gmail.com.

Generously sponsored by