From July 7 to 25, OCAD University is hosting 12 emerging artists from Costa Rica, Kenya, China, the United States and Canada as part of the International Summer Art & Design Residency.
This is the third year that OCAD U has offered the hands-on experience, geared towards high school students aged 16 and older. The three-week residency, which is coordinated by OCAD U’s Admissions and Recruitment department, aims to foster an inclusive environment for creative and conceptual learning, material exploration and professional development.
Program instructors Michelle Peraza and Frank Zhang have closely modelled the program after the first-year OCAD U experience, with studio visits, hands-on demonstrations, critiques and projects that help prepare participants for studying art and design in a post-secondary environment.
This year’s theme is “the land and who we are”, challenging artists to reflect on the rich history of Toronto and relate it to their lived experiences as emerging creative professionals residing primarily outside of Canada.
The annual program culminates in a final exhibition at OCAD U’s Ada Slaight Gallery on July 24, between 4 to 6 p.m. The gallery is located in the Rosalie Sharp Centre for Design at 100 McCaul St.
The International Summer Art & Design Residency will return in 2026 between July 7 to 25. Participant applications will open in Feb. 2026.
