2025 CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
Trinity Square Video
Graphic Design Communications Intern
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce a recruited placement in partnership with Trinity Square Video for the role of Graphic Design/Communications Intern to support the visual identity and communications of TSV programming and operations.
Deadline: Monday, August 4, 2025, 11:59 PM
2026 DesignTO Exhibition
at Stantec Window Gallery
Call for Artists
DesignTO, Stantec Window Gallery and the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to announce a public window gallery exhibition Career Launcher. One (1) exhibition proposal will receive a total of $1,230 to show their work as part of the 2026 DesignTO Festival. Artists and designers are invited to submit proposals for existing work to be shown from Dec 20, 2025 to March 18, 2026.
Deadline: Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 11:59 PM ET
Critical Distance Centre for Curators
2026 Projections Program
Call for Curators
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create the CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. One(1) emerging Curator will receive $1,700 to curate a single channel, projection-based screening program of work from the OCAD U community. The Projections Program will be displayed at the CDCC for six-weeks in January/February 2026.
Deadline: Sunday, August 3, 2025, 11:59 PM ET
Critical Distance Centre for Curators
2026 Projections Program
Call for Artists
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. Four (4) to five (5) selected emerging artists will each receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC for six-weeks in January/February 2026.
Deadline: Sunday, September 14, 2025, 11:59 PM ET
Trinity Square Video
Vitrine Career Launcher
Call for Media Artists
Trinity Square Video (TSV) and the Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to announce a Career Launcher providing an exhibition opportunity for one (1) media artist from the OCAD U community to exhibit their work at Trinity Square Video’s Vitrine at 401 Richmond St. throughout the month of September 2025. The successful applicant will receive an exhibition fee of $600 (provided by TSV) plus a material and installation fee of $600 (provided by CEAD).
Deadline: Monday, August 4, 2025, 11:59 PM
Ignite Gallery
Call for Curators
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Ignite Gallery have partnered to co-create a Career Launcher for emerging Curators. One (1) emerging curator will receive $1,200 to curate an exhibition at Ignite Gallery for the 2025 program cycle from Ignite Gallery’s annual call for artists. The selected applicant will receive curatorial guidance from the Coordinators of Ignite Gallery at all points throughout the project.
Recipient Announced
Partial x OCAD University Artist Showcase
Summer 2025 Call for Artists
Partial and the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to announce the return of our partnership which provides an exceptional career opportunity for OCAD U student artists and recent alumni (graduation years 2026, 2025, 2024). Selected artists will be given complimentary 2 year Pro Accounts ($240 value) on Partial and permanent inclusion as featured artists within the OCAD University Artist Showcase on Partial to display their works, and administrate artwork sales and rentals.
Deadline: Monday, June 23, 2025, 8:00 AM ET
TO Live
Call for Indigenous Artists
TO Live and the Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to partner on a Career Launcher providing an exhibition opportunity for six to eight (6-8) artists from OCAD U’s Indigenous community to exhibit their work at Meridian Arts Centre, Lower Gallery throughout the month of December 2025. Successful applicants will each receive an exhibition fee of $1000.
Extended Application deadline: Wednesday, July 9, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Open Studio
Printmaking Residency
The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce the Open Studio Residency Career Launcher for OCAD U students. The selected artist will work towards a self-directed final project during Summer 2025 at and give an artist talk in Fall 2025 at Open Studio.
Recipients announced
Contemporary Textile Studio Co-op Residency
The Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce the return of the Contemporary Textile Studio Artist Residency Career Launcher for students graduating in 2025. Two (2) successful applicants will be awarded a 9-week self-directed residency with Contemporary Textile Studio Cooperative.
Recipients announced
401 Richmond Illustration Studio
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce the return of the 401 Richmond Illustration Studio for graduating Illustration students. Graduating ILLU students are invited to apply for this opportunity and four (4) successful applicants will be awarded one year of free studio space in 401 Richmond from June 2025 to May 2026.
Recipients announced
Partial x OCAD University Artist Showcase
Winter 2025 Call for Artists
Partial and the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to announce the return of our partnership which provides an exceptional career opportunity for OCAD U student artists and recent alumni (graduation years 2026, 2025, 2024). Selected artists will be given complimentary 2 year Pro Accounts ($240 value) on Partial and permanent inclusion as featured artists within the OCAD University Artist Showcase on Partial to display their works, and administrate artwork sales and rentals.
Closed
2025 Career Launcher Fund
The Career Launcher Fund returns this year for Undergraduate and Master's students graduating in 2025. Apply for up to $350 to support activities relating to professional practice and skills development as you transition out of school to begin your career. Eligible activities should fall in one of the 4 pillars below:
- Showcasing or distributing your work
- Skills development
- Access to networks
- Supporting your creative business
New for 2025 is the Brampton Arts Organization Prize which will award a total of $2,000 to one or more applicants with a connection to Brampton.
Recipients announced
Kitworks
Jr. Creative Designer
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce a recruited placement in partnership with Kitworks for the role of Jr. Creative Designer.
Are you a budding design wizard eager to make your mark? Kitworks is looking for a talented, ambitious creative who’s ready to jump into the world of packaging design, product design, and digital media.
Recipient announced
2025 wonderMakr
Jr. Creative Technologist
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce a recruited placement in partnership with wonderMakr for the role of Jr. Creative Technologist.
wonderMakr is a creative technology agency that engineers and develops innovative digital + live experiences for brands, agencies and consumers. The Jr. Creative Technologist will be responsible for providing the research and development required to support their ideas.
Recipient announced
Critical Distance Centre for Curators, Exhibition Essay
Call for Writers
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered for the Critical Distance Exhibition Essay Career Launcher. One (1) writer will receive $650 to write an approx. 750-word exhibition essay to accompany a new public art billboard piece on Shaw Street in August/September 2025.
Recipient announced
Critical Distance Centre for Curators, Public Billboard
Call for Artists
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered for the Critical Distance Public Art Billboard Career Launcher. One (1) emerging artist will receive $650 to exhibit an existing artwork on a public art billboard space on Shaw Street in August/September 2025. An essay will be commissioned to accompany the work.
Recipient announced
2025 Toronto Animated Image Society (TAIS) Residency
The Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce the Toronto Animated Image Society (TAIS) Residency Career Launcher for OCAD U graduating students. The selected artist will work towards a self-directed final project during the residency and give an artist talk.
One (1) successful applicant will be awarded a membership with TAIS ($100 value), $600 in studio rental credits at TAIS to be used in the summer of 2025, and $220 towards production supplies. An artist fee of $300 will be given for the talk.
Recipients announced
2025 Akin Studios
Career Launcher
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce the return of the Akin Career Launcher for Drawing & Painting, Integrated Media, Indigenous Visual Studies, Cross Cross-Disciplinary Art: Life Studies, and Sculpture & Installation students in their graduating term. Students are invited to apply for this opportunity and two (2) successful applicants will be awarded $2,000 in credits to go towards a studio space at Akin’s shared workspaces in 2025-2026, and $450 in credit for use at RemoteGallery!
Recipients announced
Gallery 44 Centre for
Contemporary Photography
Micro-Residency
The Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce the Gallery 44 Micro-Residency Career Launcher for OCAD U students. One (1) successful applicant will be awarded a Full Membership with Gallery 44 ($190 value), $500 in credits to go towards the rental of Gallery 44 equipment and facilities, and $250 to go towards the cost of production. The selected artist will work towards a self-directed final project oriented towards their goals to be determined with Gallery 44's Head of Membership and Facilities.
Recipients announced
2025 Artist Project
Call for Artists
Announcing the return of the Artist Project Career Launcher for graduating student or recent alumni of Sculpture & Installation, Life Studies, Integrated Media, Digital Futures, or IAMD programs. This paid opportunity provides a professional venue and large public audience for their work at Exhibition Place, May 8 - 11, 2025. The Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers will provide a $2,100 production grant towards the realization of this outstanding opportunity.
Recipient announced
2025 Art Toronto Intern,
Public Spaces Designer
Announcing a recruited placement Career Launcher in partnership with Art Toronto for the role of Intern, Public Spaces Designer to provide interior design services and project management for the public and private activation spaces onsite at the 2025 Art Toronto fair (October 23-26, 2025) located at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre’s North Building, 255 Front St. West, Toronto, ON).
Recipient announced
2025 Tonkin Liu
Fabrication Apprentice
Announcing an opportunity for up to three (3) candidates to participate in a multi-day architectural model-making and fabrication workshop run by Tonkin Liu during the week of March 17, 2025. The Fabrication Apprentices will be working independently and alongside students from Etobicoke School for Arts and be compensated $1,333 each (including material and travel costs) to produce a scale-sized prototype of Tonkin Liu’s Sunscopes artwork.
Recipients announced
DesignTO
Programs Assistant
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce a recruited placement in partnership with DesignTO for the role of Programs Assistant. Working with and reporting to the Artistic Director, the Programs Assistant supports the planning, administration, and execution of DesignTO Festival programming, including exhibitions, events, outreach, and special initiatives.
Recipient announced
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
Call for Artists & Makers
Our partnership with Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF), Canada’s leading contemporary outdoor art fair returns this year. The TOAF Career Launcher is for students in the Illustration, Material Art & Design, Photography, Sculpture and Installation and Printmaking/ Publications programs. The selected students will have a free opportunity at the 64th TOAF to showcase their artworks in-person and online at TOAF.ca.
Recipients announced
2025 Format Website Prize for Graduating Students
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce the return of our opportunity with Format for one (1) graduating designer and one (1) graduating artist to each receive a prize which consists of: free hosting of their Format website for life ($300/year USD value), a $500 CDN monetary prize, and one-on-one consultation with Format’s Expert Site Building Team ($500 value).
Recipients announced
Partial x OCAD University
Artist Showcase
Fall 2024 Call for Artists
artial and the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to announce an exceptional career opportunity for OCAD U student artists and recent alumni (2023 + 2024). Selected artists will be given complimentary 2 year Pro Accounts ($240 value) on Partial and permanent inclusion as featured artists within the OCAD University Artist Showcase on Partial to display their works, and administrate artwork sales and rentals.
Closed
Sankofa Square Indigenous Student Centre Digital Exhibition Call for Artists
Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square) and the Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to announce an exhibition opportunity for three (3) artists from the OCAD U’s Indigenous community to exhibit their work on the Square’s digital screens. Selected artists will receive a fee of $500 for their artworks to be displayed across five (5) digital screens for the duration of April 2025.
Recipients announced
VIBE Arts Program Assistant
OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce a recruited placement in partnership with VIBE Arts for the role of Program Assistant. The Program Assistant will join the VIBE team to support their programming efforts, communications, and general administration under the direction of the Community Programs Manager. This role will help support and facilitate tailor-made, multi-disciplinary arts education programs in various communities across Toronto.
Recipient announced
The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers recognizes the generous support for the Career Launcher program from the Province of Ontario through its Career Ready Fund.