Calling all artists, ice fishing enthusiasts, tiny house aficionados, and design-builders of all ages and experience levels: You and your friends, family, school, business, or team are invited to participate in Artful Ice Shanties: Illumination, presented by BMAC and Retreat Farm.

The deadline to register using the form below is December 15, 2026.

Artful Ice Shanties will be displayed on land at Retreat Farm, across from the ice at Retreat Meadows, February 13-21, 2027.

Your ice shanty can be traditional or conceptual, functional or wacky, permanent or temporary (as long as it can be moved and can withstand the wind, snow, and ice in mid-February as well as exploration by the general public throughout the week), but it must be artful. You are welcome to create a shanty with this year’s theme — Illumination — in mind, but it is not required.

Specifications:

• Your shanty should be around the size of a typical ice shanty. The footprint must be between 4’x4’ and 8’x8’.
• Your shanty must weigh no more than 500 lbs.
• Your shanty must be built on skids to facilitate loading and moving.
• If your shanty has a door, it must be lockable.
• Your shanty must be delivered to Retreat Farm (45 Farmhouse Square, Brattleboro, Vermont) on February 10-11 and picked up on February 22-23.

Past Artful Ice Shanties have included:

• Namaskônek, a shanty inspired by the Algonquin ancestors of the region
• A glass box that used recycled lenses to simulate the experience of the northern lights
• A shanty by 3rd and 4th graders that displayed animals’ winter survival strategies
• An enormous black die with moon-shaped dots that was also a sauna
• A shanty that doubled as a working camera obscura
• A shanty in the shape of a giant fish

Check out photos of entries from 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, along with this video, for inspiration.

Shanties must be delivered to Retreat Farm on February 10-11 and picked up on February 22-23. Builders are responsible for delivery and pickup; if you need assistance, please let us know.

If you’re interested in participating, please register using the form below as soon as possible, as space is limited. Once you have done so, we’ll be in touch to get more details as your project unfolds. There is no fee to register.

Questions? Contact Stacy Hiler at stacy@brattleboromuseum.org.

Thank You

Artful Ice Shanties is generously sponsored by Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors.