## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/index%2Ephp/) 2. [News and Stories](/index%2Ephp/news) 3. [Announcing the recipients of the 2026 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Career Launchers!](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/4477) June 2, 2026 # Announcing the recipients of the 2026 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Career Launchers! ![Critical Distance Centre for Curators space seen from behind their window.](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/2025-02/CDCC_EssayBanner.jpg.webp?itok=qWs0mLM2) rgb(255,255,255) OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce **Jenna FitzGerald** and **Annapoorane Rajagopal Valarmathy** as the recipients of the [2026 Critical Distance Centre for Curators](https://criticaldistance.ca/), Public Art Billboard and Exhibition Essay Career Launcher! Jenna's work will be on display at **180 Shaw Street** in **August/September 2026** and will be accompanied by an essay written by Annapoorane which will soon be available to read on [**criticaldistance.ca**](https://criticaldistance.ca/) ![Recipients of the 2026 Critical Distance Career Launchers](/sites/default/files/2026-06/CL%20Recipients_2026CDCC%28news%29.png) **Jenna FitzGerald bio:** Jenna FitzGerald is a multidisciplinary artist from Toronto whose work explores the intersection of technology and nature, drawing on both organic and digital imagery and materials. Her artworks explore impermanence in the digital age and create new mythologies to reveal the magic in the world all around us. [Website](https://jennafitzgerald.format.com/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ant0nia3000/) **Annapoorane Rajagopal Valarmathy bio:** "I’m passionate about designing systems, tools, and experiences that empower individuals and cultivate meaningful human connection. I view writing as an act of design - one that shapes dialogue, influences experience, and helps create positive change in a constantly evolving world.” [Website](https://annapoorane.framer.website/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/annapoorane/) --- [Learn more about our Career Launchers.](https://careerlaunchers.format.com/) ## Other Recent News [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists 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 receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC in March 2027. October 30, 2026 ](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-artists) [### OCAD U’s Global Centre for Climate Action and EU bring large-scale art to Toronto’s Canada Malting Silos The Light and Melting Temporalities transformed the waterfront into a canvas for climate reflection. October 6, 2026 ](/news/ocad-us-global-centre-climate-action-and-eu-bring-large-scale-art-torontos-canada-malting) [### Call for Project Participants: From Our Points of View Encounters with Artists A student-led year-long visiting artist project, under the mentorship of Governor General's Award winning artist Max Dean September 30, 2026 ](/news/call-project-participants-our-points-view-encounters-artists) Related Stories ## Related Stories [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists 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 receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC in March 2027. October 30, 2026 ](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-artists) [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Curators OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create the CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. One (1) emerging Curator will receive $1,700 to curate a single channel, projection-based screening program of work from the OCAD U community. The Projections Program will be displayed at the CDCC for six-weeks in March 2027. September 27, 2026 ](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-curators) [### 2027 DesignTO Exhibition Stantec Window Gallery Call for Artists DesignTO, Stantec Window Gallery and the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to announce a public window gallery exhibition Career Launcher. One (1) exhibition proposal will receive a total of $1,230 to show their work as part of the 2027 DesignTO Festival. September 20, 2026 ](/news/2027-designto-exhibition-stantec-window-gallery-call-artists)