OCAD U CAREER LAUNCHERS

2026 Sankofa Square

Black History Month Digital Exhibition
Call for Artists

OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Sankofa Square and the Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to announce the return of the annual Black History Month Digital Exhibition Career Launcher providing an exhibition opportunity for artists from the OCAD U community to exhibit their work on the square’s digital screens. Artists are invited to submit artworks to be displayed across five (5) digital screens for the duration of Black History Month in February 2026. 

Since 2021, the Black History Month Digital Exhibition Career Launcher has been presented by the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers with Sankofa Square. The Career Launchers program by OCAD U’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (RBC CEAD) supports the career development of emerging artists and professionals by connecting them with real world opportunities to exhibit and share their art. Sankofa Square is a unique focal point of the downtown Toronto community. The Square is designated for use as a public open space and as an event venue that can accommodate events of various sizes. 

This opportunity is for artists who identify as Black. The successful applicants will each receive an exhibition fee ($500) provided by the CEAD. 

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Work closely with Sankofa Square, and the CEAD to ensure high-resolution and properly sized artwork files are delivered to Sankofa Square by January 12, 2026.

IMPORTANT: Please note that artworks must comply with:
- Sankofa Square Display Policy available here, and
- City of Toronto’s Municipal Code Chapter 694 - 18, E, (4) and (5) regulations available here

The location and specifications of Sankofa Square's two horizontal screens (960 x 480 pixels) and three vertical screens (448 x 608 pixels) can be viewed below. Each of the selected artists will be featured across all five screens simultaneously for 15 second intervals throughout the month. Four of the screens will display the artist’s work, and the fifth will display the artist’s name and bio. Artists can choose which artwork will be displayed on which screen. The artworks can be static or moving images.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Please provide the following information in one PDF document:

• Full contact information (Name, phone, and email)
• Current creative CV
• Website and/or social media handle
• Artist bio (150 words max)
• A brief statement about the artwork(s) you are submitting (2 – 4 sentences about each piece or the whole series) 
• 3 - 7 images or video links (Vimeo or Youtube) of existing work to be submitted for consideration. **please note: the digital screens allow for a maximum of 15 seconds in length without sound.
• A corresponding list for the support images including: artist name, title, year, medium, size, and duration (for time-based work). 
  
  *If submitting as a group, applicants can submit the above materials for each individual group member, or as the group 

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.