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[Critical Distance Centre for Curators 2026 Public Billboard Call for Artists](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/4161) April 5, 2026 # Critical Distance Centre for Curators 2026 Public Billboard Call for Artists ![Critical Distance billboard displaying artwork by Jenelle Smith](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/2026-01/JSMI-OCAD_billboard_cr-SKP_final-1.jpg.webp?itok=mbi5klvg) rgb(255,255,255) ### **Critical Distance Centre for Curators 2026 Public Billboard Call for Artists** **Application Deadline: Sunday, April 5, 2026, 11:59 PM ET** [**Click here to learn more about this opportunity.**](https://careerlaunchers.format.com/2026-cdcc-call-for-artists) [**Apply via Typeform here!**](https://ocadu-cead.typeform.com/2026-cdccartist) ### **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 Public Art Billboard Career Launcher. The opportunity will select a work from one (1) emerging artist to be exhibited at their public art billboard space on Shaw Street in August/September 2026. An essay will be commissioned to accompany the work. 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 artists to submit **existing works** for consideration. Artists are asked to reflect on how their submission functions in a public art context in the surrounding neighbourhood. The Artist and the Writer will be added to the CDCC’s [online database](https://criticaldistance.ca/profiles/) of artists, curators and writers. [To see examples of past projects in the Shaw billboard space, visit CDCC’s website.](https://criticaldistance.ca/programs/?sort=date&order=1&_cdprt=527) ### **RESPONSIBILITIES & TIMELINE:** The selected emerging artist will: - Provide a high resolution print file to the CEAD and CDCC by mid-May 2026. - Specs are: 300 dpi CMYK, 96” x 96” with additional 2” bleed all around. TIFF, EPS or PDF file. - Meet with the selected writer for the Critical Distance Exhibition Essay Career Launcher. Parties will be connected in mid-May, 2026 - Be present for install in late July/early Aug, 2026. Exact date TBD with artist. #### **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** - Artistic **statement/bio** (150 words max) - A **written response** about the submitted works and on how it functions in a public art context in the surrounding neighbourhood. (100 words) - **1 -3 images of existing artwork** to be considered, and a **corresponding image list** including: artist(s) name, title, year, medium, and dimensions #### **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 graduating in 2026. \*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:** - Artist must be able to provide a high resolution image of the selected artwork based on the specs provided ### **RATE:** $650 Artist fee. Billboard production costs covered by the CEAD ### **APPLICATION PORTAL:** [**Apply via Typeform here!**](https://ocadu-cead.typeform.com/2026-cdccartist) --- [**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)