2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists

Critical Distance Centre for Curators

2027 Projections Program Call for Artists

Application Deadline: Friday, October 30, 12:00 PM NOON ET 

Click here to learn more about this opportunity.

Apply here

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 in March 2027. This call for artist submissions follows the call for a curator for this initiative. 

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.  

Follow this link to explore the last 2026 exhibition “Learning To Be Here”. 

RESPONSIBILITIES & TIMELINE:

The selected emerging artists will: 

• Provide a digital file to the Curator and CDCC by January 2027; 
  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. Artists will be connected in November 2026; 
• As possible, be present for the opening reception in March 2027. 

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Please provide the following information in one PDF document:

• Contact info (Name, phone, and email) 
• Current Resume or CV 
• Website and/or social media handle 
• Artistic statement/bio (150 words max) 
• A short written description of the submitted works and on how it functions in an exhibition such as this. (100 words) 
• 1 - 3 video links or jpg images of existing artwork to be considered, and a corresponding image list including: artist(s) name, title, year, medium, 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 at the time of application and anticipate graduating in 2027 
• or current OCAD U Master's students  
• or recent OCAD U Alumni who graduated in 2026  

*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. 

**Priority may be given to applicants who have not previously received a Career Launcher opportunity. 

*** We are particularly encouraging applications from members of the OCAD U community who identify as neurodivergent, as part of an emphasis on creating enhanced access to career opportunities. 

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  

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTION: Apply HERE

Click here for more information about our Career Launchers opportunities.