Critical Distance Centre for Curators
2026 Projections Program
Call for Artists
Details
OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION
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. An essay will be commissioned to accompany the work.
Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC), a not-for-profit gallery, publisher, and professional network devoted to the support and advancement of curatorial inquiry in Toronto, Canada, and beyond. With a focus on critically engaged, collaborative, and cross-disciplinary practices, underrepresented-artists and art forms, and community outreach and education in art and exhibition-making, Critical Distance is an open platform for diverse curatorial perspectives, and a forum for the exchange of ideas on curating as a way to connect, engage, and inform people and publics across cultures, disciplines, geographies, and generations.
The CEAD and CDCC are inviting emerging artists to submit existing moving image and/or lens-based works for consideration. Artists are asked to reflect on how their submission functions in a single channel, projection-based screening program context. Artists with a moving image practice will be prioritized, but digitized stills of other artwork will be considered. Submissions should be 1920 x 1080 moving video or still images. The Artists will be added to the CDCC’s online database of artists, curators and writers.
To see examples of past programming, visit CDCC’s website.
RESPONSIBILITIES & TIMELINE
The selected emerging artists will:
- Provide a digital file to the CEAD and CDCC by mid-November 2025.
Digital files should be formatted to fit 1920 x 1080. They can be moving or still, with or without sound. - Meet with the selected Curator for the CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. Parties will be connected in October, 2025
- Be present for the opening reception in January, 2026 (optional)
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Please provide the following information in one PDF document:
- Full contact information (Name, phone, and email)
- Current resume or CV
- Website and/or social media
- Artistic statement/bio (150 words max)
- A written response about the submitted works and on how it functions in a single channel, projection-based screening program context. (100 words)
- 1 -3 video links or images of existing artwork to be considered, and a corresponding image list including: artist(s) name, title, year, medium, and and duration (if applicable)
PARTNER
Critical Distance Centre for Curators
www.criticaldistance.ca
401 Richmond St. W, Suite 122
Toronto, ON, M5V3A8
ELIGIBILITY
- Current OCAD U undergraduate students in any discipline who have completed a minimum of 15+ credits graduating in 2026
- or current OCAD U Master's students
- or recent OCAD U Alumni who graduated in 2025 or 2024
*Priority may be given to applicants who have not previously received a Career Launcher opportunity
**If you have already received this opportunity in a previous year, you are not eligible to apply
***Collectives and groups are welcome to apply as long as the group consists only of eligible OCAD U students/grads. Please note: one (1) exhibition fee per group or collective (rather than each individual member).
QUALIFICATIONS
- Artist must be able to provide a high resolution digital file of the selected artwork based on the specs provided.
RATE
$690 Exhibition fee
(In accordance with IMAA fee schedule)
DEADLINE
Sunday, September 14, 2025, 11:59 PM ET
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTION
Apply via Typeform here: https://ocadu-cead.typeform.com/CDCCProjArtists
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.
ACCESSIBILITY
Applicants who have concerns about meeting a Career Launcher application deadline are invited to connect with the CEAD in order to discuss possible alternatives. We encourage all who might require assistance with the application process to reach out to determine available support. Outreach of this nature should be undertaken at least one week prior to the published application deadline.
