2026 Sankofa Square Black History Month Digital Exhibition Call for Artists
Application Deadline: Sunday, November 9, 2025, 11:59 PM ET
Click here to learn more about this opportunity.
Apply via Typeform here!
OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION:
Sankofa Square and the Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to announce the return of the annual Black History Month Digital Exhibition Career Launcher providing an exhibition opportunity for artists from the OCAD U community to exhibit their work on the square’s digital screens. Artists are invited to submit artworks to be displayed across five (5) digital screens for the duration of Black History Month in February 2026.
Since 2021, the Black History Month Digital Exhibition Career Launcher has been presented by the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers with Sankofa Square. The Career Launchers program by OCAD U’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (RBC CEAD) supports the career development of emerging artists and professionals by connecting them with real world opportunities to exhibit and share their art. Sankofa Square is a unique focal point of the downtown Toronto community. The Square is designated for use as a public open space and as an event venue that can accommodate events of various sizes.
This opportunity is for artists who identify as Black. The successful applicants will each receive an exhibition fee ($500) provided by the CEAD.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Work closely with Sankofa Square, and the CEAD to ensure high-resolution and properly sized artwork files are delivered to Sankofa Square by January 12, 2026.
IMPORTANT: Please note that artworks must comply with:
- Sankofa Square Display Policy available here, and
- City of Toronto’s Municipal Code Chapter 694 - 18, E, (4) and (5) regulations available here
The location and specifications of Sankofa Square's two horizontal screens (960 x 480 pixels) and three vertical screens (448 x 608 pixels) can be viewed below. Each of the selected artists will be featured across all five screens simultaneously for 15 second intervals throughout the month. Four of the screens will display the artist’s work, and the fifth will display the artist’s name and bio. Artists can choose which artwork will be displayed on which screen. The artworks can be static or moving images.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Please provide the following information in one PDF document:
- Full contact information (Name, phone, and email)
- Current creative CV
- Website and/or social media handle
- Artist bio (150 words max)
- A brief statement about the artwork(s) you are submitting (2 – 4 sentences about each piece or the whole series)
- 3 - 7 images or video links (Vimeo or Youtube) of existing work to be submitted for consideration. **please note: the digital screens allow for a maximum of 15 seconds in length without sound.
- A corresponding list for the support images including: artist name, title, year, medium, size, and duration (for time-based work).
*If submitting as a group, applicants can submit the above materials for each individual group member, or as the group
PARTNER:
Sankofa Square
1 Dundas St E
Toronto, ON M5B 2R8
www.sankofasquare.ca
ELIGIBILITY:
- Current OCAD U undergraduate and Master’s level students who identify as Black, or
- Recent OCAD U alumni who graduated in 2024 or 2025 and identify as Black
- Artists should submit work that can be digitized and presented on a screen
*Collectives and groups are welcome to apply as long as every member of the group meets the eligibility criteria above. Please note: one (1)Exhibition fee will be awarded to the collective or group (rather than each individual member)
*If you have already received this opportunity in a previous year, you are not eligible
*Priority may be given to applicants who have not previously received a Career Launcher opportunity.
*Receiving this Career Launcher does not make you ineligible for other Career Launchers
TIMELINE:
Artists selected and notified in December 2025
Final Artwork due: January 12, 2026
Exhibition Duration: February 1-28, 2026
RATE:
APPLICATION PORTAL:
Apply via Typeform here!
Click here for more information about our Career Launchers opportunities.
