## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/index%2Ephp/) 2. [News and Stories](/index%2Ephp/news) 3. [Meet George and Martha Butterfield: Cultivating Creativity and Community at OCAD U](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/2270) October 28, 2024 # Meet George and Martha Butterfield: Cultivating Creativity and Community at OCAD U ![George and Martha](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/2024-10/Photo-of-George-%26-Martha.jpg.webp?itok=qKULIw7x) rgb(255,255,255) George and Martha Butterfield have generously donated over $1.1 million to OCAD U. In the year 2000, after a transformative gift towards the Ideas Need Space Campaign, Butterfield Park was named in their honour. Their recent gift of $500,000 played a pivotal role in kicking off the Butterfield Park Revitalization campaign. This significant contribution underscores their dedication to creating vibrant and sustainable spaces for creativity, learning and community engagement. **Butterfield Park: A Green Hub for Art and Design** Situated beneath the iconic "tabletop" of the Rosalie Sharp Centre for Design, Butterfield Park serves as a crucial link between OCAD U and the surrounding neighbourhoods, including the much-loved Grange Park. The park's revitalization, propelled by the Butterfields' support, will transform it into OCAD U’s premier outdoor destination for showcasing art and design, offering both students and the public a place for gathering, inspiration and contemplation. **A Vision for Community and Sustainability** Martha and George’s vision for Butterfield Park emphasizes the extension of beauty and creativity beyond traditional forms to the environment, highlighting the importance of sustainable and accessible outdoor spaces. The campaign to revitalize Butterfield Park reflects a shared commitment to fostering human connection, green landscapes and community well-being. **Legacy of Support and Inspiration** The Butterfields' contributions to OCAD University and the creation of Butterfield Park exemplify their belief and support in the transformative power of art and design in society. Their philanthropy not only enhances the University's campus, but also enriches Toronto's cultural and environmental landscape. **What motivated the Butterfields to support OCAD U?** *“As beauty extends beyond the canvas, sculpture, the classroom and other art forms to the environment, we are excited to support a sustainable outside space for contemplation and creativity.”* \- Martha Butterfield ## 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 ](/index%2Ephp/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 [### A night of art, design and community at the OCAD U Gala More than 300 guests gathered for the second annual OCAD U Gala, raising $420,000 through an evening of art, design and community. Proceeds from the event will support student bursaries at OCAD University. June 4, 2026 ](/index%2Ephp/news/night-art-design-and-community-ocad-u-gala) [### Taking graduate work beyond the studio With support from the William and Nona Heaslip Foundation, OCAD U graduate students are expanding their practice through travel, experimentation and new creative work. May 5, 2026 ](/news/taking-graduate-work-beyond-studio) [### Rosalie Sharp honoured with inaugural Chancellor’s Lifetime Achievement Award The OCAD U award recognizes Rosalie Sharp’s extraordinary contributions to the advancement of art, design and culture in Toronto and across Canada. October 22, 2025 ](/index%2Ephp/news/rosalie-sharp-honoured-inaugural-chancellors-lifetime-achievement-award)