OCAD U CAREER LAUNCHERS

Tonkin Liu
Call for Public Art Mentees

OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers and Tonkin Liu are excited to announce an opportunity for students interested in learning more about public art to participate in the development of a project as Mentees through the Career Launcher Program. Up to 4 candidates will be selected to participate in a multi-day workshop run by Tonkin Liu, working alongside Grade 11 students from Etobicoke School for Arts. Tonkin Liu has been commissioned to develop the public art for Lanterra Developments'  Notting Hill Condominiums in Etobicoke, located between Royal York Road and Scarlett Road on the north side of Eglinton Avenue West at 4000 Eglinton Avenue West. More information about the site and project here. 

For the workshop, Tonkin Liu will be teaching the participants their studio’s working methodology and ESA Students and OCAD Mentees will engage with these ideas/techniques as part of a series of explorations, creative exercises, and presentations. It will be an opportunity for all participants to learn more about how a site-specific project is researched and developed. Tonkin Liu is seeking current students and recent grads with an interest in public art, community engagement and environmental/urban design to participate in a series of three (3) day virtual sessions and one in-person session during the weeks of March 18 and 25. This will be supplemented by asynchronous work, research and activities conducted in between the sessions.

For these sessions, Tonkin Liu will work with Grade 11 students from Etobicoke School of the Arts (ESA) and the OCAD U community. The role would see the OCAD Mentees participating in the workshop, and taking a leadership role in facilitating collaboration, sharing and communication through the workshop. This might include collating materials for discussion and presentation. A preliminary schedule is as follows: 

Day 1: Asking (word based)

• Morning: Engage in a 2-hour virtual session hosted by Tonkin Liu.
• Afternoon: In-person meeting/workshop at Etobicoke School of the Arts

Day 2: Looking (image-based)

• Morning: Participate in another 2-hour virtual session hosted by Tonkin Liu.
• Afterwards: Conduct independent or team research, shared virtually before Day 3

Day 3: Conclude

• Conclude the workshop with a 2-hour virtual session hosted by Tonkin Liu. 
  
• Afterwards: Wrap up any remaining work.

This opportunity is a great fit for a current student or recent graduate looking to gain experience in public design and planning, public art, large-scale sculpture, and more. It will also be of interest to students or recent graduates who are interested in education, collaborative work, and team building. Faculty mentorship from OCAD U and ESA will be available. 

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be available to attend all three (3) virtual sessions. One session will be with ESA students.
• Facilitating collaboration between grade 11 students, Tonkin Liu and other Mentees
• Research/discussion/presentation collation
• *Exact dates to be determined with selected candidates 

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.