## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/index%2Ephp/) 2. [News and Stories](/index%2Ephp/news) 3. [DemocracyXChange Summit opens April 3](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/3258) April 2, 2025 # DemocracyXChange Summit opens April 3 ![Poster for DemocracyXChange with white, blue and yellow lettering on black background (on left) and a purple background on the right, showing people in an audience. ](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/2025-04/news%20release%20DXC25_General_16x9_Horizontal%20%283%29_0.PNG.webp?itok=-e-hJaRa) rgb(255,255,255) Against the backdrop of tariff threats and annexation and an upcoming federal election, DemocracyXChange (DXC), Canada’s premier democracy summit, is bringing together people from the public, private and non-profit sectors to take positive action and strengthen our democracy. Co-presented by OCAD University, the Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), and the Open Democracy Project, the sixth edition of DXC takes place from April 3 to 5 in Toronto at multiple locations, including OCAD U, TMU and the Toronto Reference Library. Workshops, panel discussions, keynote speakers and a special Sing for Democracy experience with Choir! Choir! Choir! will address the summit’s theme, Challenge assumptions, spark action, examining pressing issues such as growing economic and social inequality, polarization in media and mistrust in public institutions. KEY FEATURES • Historian and award-winning author Timothy Snyder discusses his new book On Freedom. • Sociologist and author Musa al-Gharbi speaks about rethinking divisions in our society. • Pollsters Shachi Kurl and Andrew Parkin discuss the challenges capturing the true pulse of public opinion. • An art exhibition highlights the creator's unique role in civil discourse and explores art’s unparalleled ability to reveal alternative perspectives. The exhibition includes Counterbalance, presented in partnership with OCAD University and the Delegation of the European Union to Canada. • Generation Bold: Emerging Leaders workshop equips students and early career professionals with the skills, confidence and networks to drive meaningful impact in their communities. • Sing for Democracy with Choir! Choir! Choir! teaches us how to work together to create a collective experience. Ticket sales and the full summit schedule is available at [democracyxchange.org](https://www.democracyxchange.org/). ## Other Recent News [### 2026-27 Call for Funding Proposals for Student Groups that Support Creative Entrepreneurship on Campus The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) invites OCAD University student groups with a mandate to support entrepreneurship on campus to apply for funding for student-led initiatives that strengthen and expand the creative entrepreneurship ecosystem at OCAD U. This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals. November 6, 2026 ](/news/2026-27-call-funding-proposals-student-groups-support-creative-entrepreneurship-campus) [### 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) [### Call for Vendors: BAM! Holiday Art Market 2026 OCAD University's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) is excited to partner again with Wychwood Barns to offer a curated group of OCAD U students and recent alumni the opportunity to share a vendor table at the BAM! Holiday Art Market. October 26, 2026 ](/news/call-vendors-bam-holiday-art-market-2026) Related Stories ## Related Stories [### 2026-27 Call for Funding Proposals for Student Groups that Support Creative Entrepreneurship on Campus The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) invites OCAD University student groups with a mandate to support entrepreneurship on campus to apply for funding for student-led initiatives that strengthen and expand the creative entrepreneurship ecosystem at OCAD U. This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals. November 6, 2026 ](/news/2026-27-call-funding-proposals-student-groups-support-creative-entrepreneurship-campus) [### 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) [### Call for Vendors: BAM! Holiday Art Market 2026 OCAD University's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) is excited to partner again with Wychwood Barns to offer a curated group of OCAD U students and recent alumni the opportunity to share a vendor table at the BAM! Holiday Art Market. October 26, 2026 ](/news/call-vendors-bam-holiday-art-market-2026)