The National Ice Carving Association

 

The National Ice Carving Association (NICA) is the world’s largest ice carving organization.  NICA is responsible for and dedicated to promoting the art of ice sculpture, sanctioning ice carving competitions, and educating carvers on techniques for ice.  The organization holds an educational trade show every year in an effort to gather carvers and business to share information as well as create some camaraderie in our industry.


NICA is also responsible for certifying ice carvers.  The Certification has changed greatly over the past year thanks to Second Vice President Stephan Koch.  He has reworked the program and is still working on certification for Ice Carving Educators and CNC technologists. The program is ever changing and is always in need of revising.  If you think it could be better than make a call and help change it, I know that there will be someone listening.


Check out their website www.nica.org and you will see listing of events, ice related news articles, a find a sculptor link and more.  This is the most visited ice carving website.  Often if you google ice carving NICA comes up number one.  Think of that when you want to advertise!  I personally refer many calls to this sight for carvings that are out of state.  I often check out how people come across my website through my web server and NICA’s find a sculptor is number two for me, just behind google referrals.


NICA also puts out a magazine twice a year and further backs up old articles on the website.  If you are a member of NICA you can log into the website and use ice carving designs that are listed there for carvers.  There is over 500 designs to choose from.  Happy hunting.


If you are interested in getting involved with NICA I strongly encourage  you to do so.  Contact some of the board members or our Executive Director Jeff Petercsak to see how you can help.  I would also encourage you to run for the board of directors and help us change our industry for the better.  Make yourself become part of a great history!  If you think that is too much than start small by sharing designs and pictures with us.


If you have not already checked out NICA or have strayed away, please take another look.  And for those of you that started out with NICA and built a name for yourself through NICA events, then you should remember and give back to your roots.  You know who you are.



NICA FACTS

The National Ice Carving Association (NICA) was formed in 1987. NICA is a Not-for-Profit Organization that continually works at promoting the Art of Ice Carving through increasing public awareness and encouraging ongoing education for its members. The association set up 10 goals in order to improve this delightful and creative art form. They are as follows:


  1. •    To create public awareness of Ice Carving as an art form.

  2. •    To encourage the use of Ice Sculpture as a marketing tool.

  3. •    To provide a calendar of upcoming sculpting events across the country as well as assist in promoting new events.

  4. •    To offer training to students as well as continuing education for professionals via trade shows, seminars, websites, and articles.

  5. •    To develop safety standards.

  6. •    To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and techniques.

  7. •    To form a network of Ice Sculptors and encourage fellowship among them. 

  8. •    To develop standardized judging criteria to be used at all NICA sanctioned events.

  9. •    To provide our members with information on tools and other related products.

  10. •    To select individuals and/or teams to represent the United States in international competitions.

  11. •    To certify ice carvers.

  12. •    To help ice carvers promote their business through the Find-A-Sculptor on the website.


These goals provide the framework for NICA to operate successfully. Membership has grown to over 400 during the past 20 years. NICA is proud to provide services and information to its members and sponsors. Additionally, some sponsors who have chosen to have NICA sanctioned ice sculpting events include Perrier, Proctor & Gamble, Sysco Foodservice, American Express, Southwest Airlines, Anheuser - Busch, Miller Beer and Stolichnaya.


NICA can be reached by telephone at 1-630-871-8431 or fax at 1-630-871-0838 or by email at NICAexdir@aol.com

www.nica.org

Click here to go to the NICA home page.

On any page just click on the NICA shield to go back to the original NICA web site.