## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/index%2Ephp/) 2. [News and Stories](/index%2Ephp/news) 3. [OCAD U co-hosts townhall on arts and culture ](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/3273) April 8, 2025 # OCAD U co-hosts townhall on arts and culture ![graphic with wording, Electoral Townhall on Arts and Culture, Shaping the Future of Canada's Cultural Sovereignty, April 16, 12 pm with free registration and logos of organizers](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/2025-04/COA-04_DebatElectoral_1200x1200_EN.jpg.webp?itok=eXt9zeJA) On April 16, OCAD University joins with the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) to co-host an electoral townhall on arts and culture in Canada. The event, taking place from noon to 1:30 p.m. at 100 McCaul St., is bringing together representatives from Canada’s main political parties to examine issues related to the arts, culture and creative industries. Candidates will have the opportunity to present their respective party commitments to ensuring a strong and inclusive future for the arts and culture sector. **The townhall is being broadcast live on the** [**OCAD University YouTube channel**](https://www.youtube.com/ocaduniversity)**.** The candidates participating in the townhall are: - [Karim Bardeesy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbardeesy/), Liberal Party representative and candidate for Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park, - [Sandy Crawley,](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-crawley-4a747a284/) Green Party representative and candidate for Hamilton Centre, and - [Norm Di Pasquale](https://www.linkedin.com/in/normandp/), NDP representative and candidate for Spadina—Harbourfront. The discussion will focus on the theme of cultural sovereignty and explore four key areas: - Public funding and the socio-economic conditions of artists, - The Broadcasting Act and future of CBC/Radio-Canada, - Copyright, and - Impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on culture. People can submit questions in advance to **coalition@cdec-cdce.org**. A selection of questions will be made based on the available time for the question-and-answer period. **REGISTRATION REQUIRED** [Registration is required to attend in person](https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventbrite.ca%2Fe%2Felectoral-townhall-on-arts-and-culture-tickets-1310602249609%3Futm-campaign%3Dsocial%26utm-content%3Dattendeeshare%26utm-medium%3Ddiscovery%26utm-term%3Dlisting%26utm-source%3Dcp%26aff%3Debdsshcopyurl&data=05%7C02%7Ckmccarthy%40ocadu.ca%7Cc73db711f02e4a05ee4908dd72d776f1%7C06e469d12d2a468fae9b7df0968eb6d7%7C0%7C0%7C638792992135613950%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JcmBvaeuQF%2F9PPkgQJZ2CCknbNNZ%2BM%2FtbvNwMhu%2FRWk%3D&reserved=0 "https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventbrite.ca%2Fe%2Felectoral-townhall-on-arts-and-culture-tickets-1310602249609%3Futm-campaign%3Dsocial%26utm-content%3Dattendeeshare%26utm-medium%3Ddiscovery%26utm-term%3Dlisting%26ut"). **EVENT DETAILS** **Date and time:** Wednesday, April 16, 2025, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. **Doors open at 11:30 a.m.** **Location:** OCAD University, 100 McCaul St., Auditorium (room 190) **Broadcast:** Live broadcast on the OCAD U YouTube channel (a recording will be available after the townhall). ## 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)