## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/index%2Ephp/) 2. [News and Stories](/index%2Ephp/news) 3. [Partnership with MARTK’D supports young creatives](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/3049) February 10, 2025 # Partnership with MARTK’D supports young creatives ![Black sweatshirt with white letters: Celebrate Artists and the OCADU logo is on the sleeve.](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/2025-02/thumbnail_IMG_5708.jpg.webp?itok=pZG5v5jI) rgb(255,255,255) ### Partnership with MARTK’D supports young creatives Emerging artists get to flex their “creative muscles” thanks to a partnership program between OCAD University and MARTK’D. Since 2014, creatives have had opportunities to showcase their creativity and learn more about possible careers in the creative industries by participating in the Art on Sneakers Invitational. OCAD U was the first higher education institution to partner with MARTK’D on its Art on Sneakers Invitational, leveraging the event as a creative way to introduce youth to the University and expansive career opportunities in creative fields. “We developed the MARTK’D: Art on Sneakers Invitational to create a sports-like competition geared for high school aged creatives and artists whose talents could be showcased in front of their peers and family,” explains MARTK’D founder Dion Walcott. “What is unique about this program is that it celebrates the intersection between education, art and culture by connecting, empowering and providing access to emerging artists to showcase their talent,” he says. In recent years, OCAD U has hosted the invitational both on and off campus and winners have received scholarships to attend the University’s Portfolio Clinic programs. Winners have also received cash prizes and career opportunities such as working on a sneaker concept that goes into production with the brand partner. MARTK’D has also hosted similar invitationals in New York, Houston, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Hamilton. **LATEST INITIATIVE CELEBRATES ARTISTS** MARTKD’s latest initiative builds on the theme of celebrating artists like we celebrate athletes. “The idea behind this program is to sell our MARTK’D Celebrate Artists classic crew neck sweatshirt with an OCAD x MARTK’D lock-up to raise awareness about the partnership and use the sales to go towards future programming. In 2024, we are using the classic chest design and in 2025 we will work with a student to get new graphics designed,” explains Walcott. The sweatshirts are now available on the [OCAD U online store](https://shopocadu.ca/products/martk-d-x-ocad-u-sweatshirt). ## 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)