OCAD students and faculty members are participating once again in the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA), taking place from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2 at a new venue this year, Victoria University at the University of Toronto.
Since its inception in 1974, TIFA has welcomed thousands of authors to its stages from more than 100 countries, including 22 Nobel Laureates and countless other award winners. This is the third year OCAD U students and faculty are involved with the festival.
OCAD U events at TIFA offer experiential learning opportunities for students as well as the occasion for audiences to connect with the University's community of talented creative writers.
Established in 2018, OCAD U’s Creative Writing program is a hands-on, studio-based undergraduate program that uniquely supports students’ development of their literary voices in the context of an art and design education. It cultivates real-world experiences for students and their work, to engage and enrich a literary ecology on and off campus as they forge a culture of transformation.
OCAD U-RELATED EVENTS AT TIFA
OCAD U Student Literary Cabaret
Wed. Oct. 29, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Emmanuel College, Room 119
75 Queen's Park Crescent
Pass required to attend
Join emerging writer-performers for a thrilling night of cabaret, readings and performance from Toronto’s creative stars of tomorrow. The evening will showcase the work of new voices from OCAD U and other university creative writing communities working in a variety of forms and styles including performance, spoken word, poetry, storytelling and music.
Toronto Poetry Slam
Fri. Oct. 31, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Isabel Bader Theatre
93 Charles St. W.
Pass required to attend
OCAD U faculty member Ian Keteku returns as the host of the popular Toronto Poetry Slam, a high-energy spectacle of original content to leave you feeling inspired! Since 2005, this event has featured some of Canada’s best and most engaging spoken word artists and next generation stars. Presented in partnership with Toronto Poetry Project, this hit slam is a competition in two rounds with multiple contestants, judged by members of the audience. Anyone is welcome to sign up to perform in any style.
Writers Behind Typewriters
Nov. 1, 2 to 4 p.m.
Victoria College, Main Lobby
Free event
Enjoy the sonic landscape of many writers writing, connect with a typewriter, or receive a bespoke letter, poem or piece of flash fiction from a student in OCAD U’s Creative Writing program. All pieces produced are signed and ready to take home.
Re/writing Connection: an immersive conversation
Sun. Nov. 2, 2:30 to 3:27 p.m.
Northrop Frye Hall, Room 003
Free event
OCAD U Professor Lillian Allen, and Toronto’s Poet Laureate, is participating on a panel discussion about the power of writing and storytelling to transform lives and strengthening communities.
The discussion, moderated by the Writers Collective of Canada, represents an important opportunity to showcase the role of art in Canadians’ lives: how writing and creativity can build strength and resilience, ignite community and address the national crisis in isolation.
