With support from the William and Nona Heaslip Foundation, OCAD University graduate students are taking their work beyond the studio through travel, hands-on experimentation and the development of new creative projects. The Foundation’s gift, delivered through the Graduate Student Project and Travel Grant, provides essential funding that makes these opportunities possible.
In the Fall 2025 funding cycle alone, ten students received support to pursue ambitious projects across disciplines. For many, this marked a turning point from ideas developed in the studio to projects that are tested and experienced in real-world settings.
Graduate students are using this funding to take their work into environments that would otherwise be out of reach. This includes international travel to study subject matter firsthand. For example, Nora Alkeyat worked inside castles and cathedrals in Germany to study medieval illumination in its original setting, documenting motifs and spatial relationships and translating those observations into a visual workbook that informs the direction of her current artwork.
Others are expanding their practice through hands-on technical training, gaining experience that is critical to their development as artists. At Harbourfront Centre, Tavleen Kaur Lall developed new glassblowing techniques, creating sculptural glass forms for an installation that incorporates an immersive sound environment. The project embraces the unpredictability of molten glass, encouraging experimentation, risk-taking and material discovery that strengthen Lall’s ability to innovate and adapt throughout her career.
Students are also exploring how art and design take shape within global cultural contexts. Through visits to major New York City museums, including the Guggenheim, the Met and MoMA, they study how exhibitions are conceived, structured and experienced. They gain insight into how curatorial choices shape public understanding, dialogue and access to art, and apply these lessons to their own exhibition practice.
These experiences allow students to test their ideas in practice while helping them develop the skills, confidence and creative direction needed to bring their work into professional and public spaces.
This impact reflects the vision behind the William and Nona Heaslip Foundation’s support. The Foundation’s commitment is rooted in the enduring legacy of its founders, William Heaslip and Nona Macdonald Heaslip, both Members of the Order of Canada, recognized for their contributions to Canadian society. Together, their lifelong dedication to education, the arts and community engagement established the guiding vision of the Foundation, which continues to empower emerging creative leaders and enrich communities nationwide.
“At OCAD University, graduate students are advancing work that expands how we understand art, design and creative practice,” said Dr. Ashok Mathur, vice-president, research and dean, School of Graduate Studies. “On behalf of the School of Graduate Studies, I extend my sincere thanks to the William and Nona Heaslip Foundation for its commitment to supporting the next generation of creative researchers and cultural leaders.”
