As OCAD University celebrates 150 years of shaping art, design and culture, it is looking to the future by strengthening international relationships and exploring new opportunities for academic and artistic exchange.
A recent visit by leaders from three Philippine academic and arts institutions highlighted the role of these transnational relationships in connecting creative communities, fostering cultural diplomacy and opening new perspectives through art and design.
Invited by OCAD U’s International Programs & Collaborations Office, on behalf of President and Vice-Chancellor Ana Serrano, the guests visited the University in October to take part in its 150th anniversary celebrations and learn more about its academic programs, facilities and interdisciplinary approach to creative education.
The delegation included Roberto C. Yap, SJ, president of Ateneo de Manila University; Maria (Boots) Victoria T. Herrera, director and chief curator of the Ateneo Art Gallery; and Abdulmari (Toym) de Leon Imao Jr., dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
Campus tours were an integral part of the visit, providing the leaders with the opportunity to experience firsthand OCAD U’s creative learning spaces and studios and explore its diverse programs. They also attended the University’s 150th anniversary launch event at the Princess of Wales Theatre on October 19.
“Art and design have a unique ability to bring people together across borders, creating opportunities to exchange ideas, understand different perspectives and imagine new possibilities,” said President Ana Serrano. “As we celebrate 150 years, we’re looking not only at the impact our community has had on art, design and culture, but also at how we can build meaningful transnational relationships that connect artists, educators and institutions. These relationships are an important part of cultural diplomacy and can help us approach shared challenges with greater creativity and understanding.”
Left to right: Ateneo de Manila University President Roberto C. Yap SJ, Ateneo Art Gallery Director and Chief Curator Maria (Boots) Victoria T. Herrera posing with an installation by 2024 Ateneo Art Resident, Doktor Karayom at OCAD University.
The visit builds on OCAD U’s established relationship with Ateneo de Manila University through the Ateneo Art Award Residency, developed in partnership with the Ateneo Art Gallery. The residency brings Filipino artists to OCAD U and connects them with the Canadian arts community, creating opportunities for artistic exchange and engagement across cultures.
Past participants include artists Russel Trinidad, known by his street name moniker Doktor Karayom, whose exhibition, No One’s At Home (Walang Tao Sa Bahay) was featured at OCAD U’s Onsite Gallery in 2024, and 2024 resident, and Jel Suarez, whose exhibition, Jel Suarez: A bouquet of flowers must be held took place at Onsite Gallery in June, 2026.
The relationship demonstrates how sustained arts initiatives can create connections between institutions and communities beyond formal academic partnerships. Through opportunities for artists to work in new contexts and engage with different creative networks, these exchanges contribute to a broader dialogue about contemporary art and its place in society.
The October visit also created an opportunity to connect with the University of the Philippines Diliman, which is not currently a formal partner of OCAD U. Its College of Fine Arts presented Studies in Time at the Philippines Pavilion of the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea in September 2026, while OCAD U presented Canada's Pavilion at the 2026 Gwangju Biennale with the exhibition, Skennen'kó:wa ken? (Do You Carry Great Peace?).
OCAD U’s wider engagement with the Philippines includes relationships with Mapúa University, De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, Far Eastern University and iAcademy. Its engagement with Mapúa began with a delegation visit in October 2019 and continued with Narratives Through Global Space, a collaborative program launched in 2021.
For President Yap and Herrera, the October trip marked their first visit to Toronto. Alongside the campus tours and anniversary celebrations, Herrera visited OCAD U’s Onsite Gallery, providing another opportunity to engage with the university’s contemporary art programming.
Since its founding in 1876 as the Ontario Art School, OCAD University has evolved into Canada’s largest and oldest university dedicated to art and design. Its faculty and alums have helped shape the country’s visual identity and culture, including some of the country’s most familiar symbols, such as the loonie and dime and the identities of many iconic Canadian brands.
As OCAD U looks toward its next 150 years, the institution’s international relationships remain an important part of its future: connecting creative communities, encouraging cross-cultural exchange and exploring how art and design can help people understand one another and respond to a changing world.
