Critical Distance Centre for Curators 2026 Public Billboard Call for Artists

Critical Distance Centre for Curators 2026 Public Billboard Call for Artists

Application Deadline: Sunday, April 5, 2026, 11:59 PM ET

Click here to learn more about this opportunity.

Apply via Typeform here!

OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION:

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create the Critical Distance Public Art Billboard Career Launcher. The opportunity will select a work from one (1) emerging artist to be exhibited at their public art billboard space on Shaw Street in August/September 2026. An essay will be commissioned to accompany the work. 

Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC), a not-for-profit gallery, publisher, and professional network devoted to the support and advancement of curatorial inquiry in Toronto, Canada, and beyond. With a focus on critically engaged, collaborative, and cross-disciplinary practices, underrepresented-artists and art forms, and community outreach and education in art and exhibition-making, Critical Distance is an open platform for diverse curatorial perspectives, and a forum for the exchange of ideas on curating as a way to connect, engage, and inform people and publics across cultures, disciplines, geographies, and generations. 

The CEAD and CDCC are inviting emerging artists to submit existing works for consideration. Artists are asked to reflect on how their submission functions in a public art context in the surrounding neighbourhood. The Artist and the Writer will be added to the CDCC’s online database of artists, curators and writers. 

To see examples of past projects in the Shaw billboard space, visit CDCC’s website.

RESPONSIBILITIES & TIMELINE:

The selected emerging artist will: 

• Provide a high resolution print file to the CEAD and CDCC by mid-May 2026.
• Specs are: 300 dpi CMYK, 96” x 96” with additional 2” bleed all around. TIFF, EPS or PDF file.
• Meet with the selected writer for the Critical Distance Exhibition Essay Career Launcher. Parties will be connected in mid-May, 2026
• Be present for install in late July/early Aug, 2026. Exact date TBD with artist. 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Please provide the following information in one PDF document:

• Full contact information (Name, phone, and email)
• Current resume or CV 
• Website and/or social media
• Artistic statement/bio (150 words max)
• A written response about the submitted works and on how it functions in a public art context in the surrounding neighbourhood. (100 words)
• 1 -3 images of existing artwork to be considered, and a corresponding image list including: artist(s) name, title, year, medium, and dimensions

PARTNER:

Critical Distance Centre for Curators
www.criticaldistance.ca

401 Richmond St. W, Suite 122
Toronto, ON, M5V3A8

ELIGIBILITY:

• Current OCAD U undergraduate students who have completed 15+ credits and will be graduating in 2026, 
• or current OCAD U Master's students graduating in 2026.

*Priority may be given to applicants who have not previously received a Career Launcher opportunity

**If you have already received this opportunity in a previous year, you are not eligible to apply

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Artist must be able to provide a high resolution image of the selected artwork based on the specs provided

RATE:

$650 Artist fee. Billboard production costs covered by the CEAD

APPLICATION PORTAL:

Apply via Typeform here!

Click here for more information about our Career Launchers opportunities.