OCAD U CAREER LAUNCHERS

2025 Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

Call for Artists & Makers

OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

The Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce the return of our partnership with Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF), Canada’s leading contemporary outdoor & online art fair. The TOAF Career Launcher is for students in the Illustration, Material Art & Design, Photography, Integrated Media, Sculpture and Installation, Drawing and Painting, Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art, Media and Design, Indigenous Visual Culture 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. 

Since 1961, TOAF has been instrumental in launching artists’ careers and bringing art into people’s everyday lives. TOAF is passionate about supporting artists and exceptional talents through awards, special programs and opportunities. With 170,000 annual visitors to Nathan Phillips Square, 100,000 website visitors, and 1 million annual page views, TOAF’s loyal community of art lovers continues to grow. 

TOAF has always reserved a portion of the Fair to emerging and student artists, and has hosted many well-known Canadian artists early in their careers including: Barbara Astman, Edward Burtynsky and many others. This is an amazing opportunity to get yourself out there, nurture an audience, and sell your work! Student applications will be reviewed by the TOAF external jury for final selection.

CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

3D Works: Three-dimensional artworks, using additive or reductive techniques, including freestanding sculptures, reliefs, assemblages etc. created using either traditional or experimental materials. 

2D Works: Two-dimensional, created using one or more physical material, including Drawing, Printmaking, Illustration, Collage, and Mixed Media works, etc.

Craft & Design: Hand-crafted objects (functional or decorative) created using fine craft and/or industrial design practices including, Ceramics, Glass, Jewellery, Textile, Wood/Furniture, etc. Exclude machine-screen patterns or other forms of mass production, and factory-produced wearable items regardless of additional modification. 

Painting: Oil, acrylic, encaustic, watercolour, inks, etc.
Photography & Digital Media: Photographic prints made from the artist’s original image, and/or digitally manipulated images created from original artist images, and/or other sourced material.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• 6 images of your artwork (a consistent portfolio of work)
• 1 Installation, grouping or booth image (your work in context)
• Artist statement (500 characters max)
• A short description of your process, your medium/method (200 characters)
• Copy of timetable and student card 

INFO SESSION (TOAF Career Launcher)

Tuesday, January 21, 2025
3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Click hereto RSVP

Join our upcoming info session to learn more about Toronto Outdoor Art Fair and resources for putting together a strong application. 

APPLICATION SUPPORT

The OCAD U RBC CEAD is committed to promoting substantive equality for equity-seeking groups that are under-represented in the creative sector. We encourage applications from first-time applicants to the program and graduates of equity-seeking communities including racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities / expressions. Applicants are welcome to advise the CEAD of any accommodations needed to ensure you have access to a fair and equitable process. 

Applicants who need assistance with their submissions are invited to connect with the RBC CEAD for Advising support. Click here to learn more about how to book an advising appointment.