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[Critical Distance Centre for Curators 2026 Exhibition Essay Commission Call for Writers](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/4162) April 19, 2026 # Critical Distance Centre for Curators 2026 Exhibition Essay Commission Call for Writers ![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) ### **Critical Distance Centre for Curators 2026 Exhibition Essay Commission Call for Writers** **Extended Deadline: Sunday, April 19, 2026, 11:59 PM ET** [**Click here to learn more about this opportunity.**](https://careerlaunchers.format.com/2026-cdcc-writer) [**Apply via Typeform here!**](https://ocadu-cead.typeform.com/2026-cdccwriter) ### **OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION:** OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create the Critical Distance Exhibition Essay Career Launcher. The opportunity will select one (1) writer to be commissioned for an approx. 750 word exhibition essay to accompany a new public art billboard piece on Shaw street in August/September 2026. Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC), a not-for-profit gallery, publisher, and professional network devoted to the support and advancement of curatorial inquiry in Toronto, Canada, and beyond. With a focus on critically-engaged, collaborative, and cross-disciplinary practices, underrepresented artists and art forms, and community outreach and education in art and exhibition-making, Critical Distance is an open platform for diverse curatorial perspectives, and a forum for the exchange of ideas on curating as a way to connect, engage, and inform people and publics across cultures, disciplines, geographies, and generations. The CEAD and CDCC are inviting emerging writers to submit their work for consideration. The essay will be published on CDCC’s website to accompany the billboard exhibition. The selected writer will receive editing support from the CDCC team. After the exhibition, the writer will be added to the CDCC’s online database of artists, curators and writers. [To see examples of past writing and publishing projects, visit CDCC’s website. ](https://criticaldistance.ca/items/) ### **RESPONSIBILITIES & TIMELINE:** The selected emerging writer will: - Write an approximately 750-word exhibition essay to accompany the August/September 2026 billboard exhibition - Meet with the selected artist for the Critical Distance Public Art Billboard Career Launcher. Recipients will be connected in mid-May, 2026 - Submit a first draft for review by mid-July 2026. Editing guidance will be provided by the CDCC. ### **APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:** Please provide the following information in **one PDF document**: - **Full contact information** (Name, phone, and email) - Current **resume** or **CV** - **Website** and/or **social media** - A brief **statement/bio** (150 words max) - Ashort **writing sample** about a work of contemporary art (300 words). ### **PARTNER:** **Critical Distance Centre for Curators** [www.criticaldistance.ca](http://www.criticaldistance.ca/) 401 Richmond St. W, Suite 122 Toronto, ON, M5V3A8 ### **ELIGIBILITY:** - Current OCAD U undergraduate students who have completed 15+ credits and will be graduating in 2026, - **or** current OCAD U Master's students - **or** recent Alumni (class of 2025) \*Priority may be given to applicants who have not previously received a Career Launcher opportunity \*\*If you have already received this opportunity in a previous year, you are not eligible to apply ### **QUALIFICATIONS:** - A strong knowledge of contemporary art and discourse - Experience writing about public art and an interest in arts writing/publishing would be considered an asset ### **RATE:** $650 Essay fee ### **APPLICATION PORTAL:** [**Apply via Typeform here!**](https://ocadu-cead.typeform.com/2026-cdccwriter) --- [**Click here for more information about our Career Launchers opportunities.**](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)