On October 1, OCAD University and the NEO Exchange celebrated their unique partnership at a virtual event to mark the public debut of the NEO Commissioning Program.
The program provides selected OCAD U students or graduates with an opportunity to produce original, tailored works of art, on commission, to commemorate new listings on the NEO Exchange.
NEO has also donated $25,000 to OCAD U to establish an endowment fund for the NEO Award for Disruptive Design. This award, to be given annually to a fourth-year student enrolled in the Industrial Design program, is about challenging the status quo, driving profound change, and making a positive social impact.
“We are thrilled to be working with NEO on this exciting collaboration,” said Ana Serrano, President of OCAD U. “As a university of emerging artists, designers, makers, creators and innovators, we value partnerships like the one with NEO Exchange because we want to give our students opportunities that will showcase their talent and support them as they embark on their chosen career. We are also very grateful to NEO for establishing a $25,000 endowment fund for the NEO Award for Disruptive Design.”
Earlier this year, 65 artists applied to the program through OCAD U’s Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers. Congratulations to the following five artists who have been selected to participate in this exciting partnership:
- Mac Lenters, a visual artist and recent graduate from OCAD U
- Justyna Werbel, a visual artist, curator, and graduate student at OCAD U
- Gillian Toliver, a multidisciplinary artist and recent graduate from OCAD U
- Jinke Wang, a freelance illustrator, mural artist, and recent graduate from OCAD U
- Elise Conlin, a freelance illustrator, mural artist, and current student at OCAD U
Additional artists will be brought into the NEO Commissioning Program each successive year.
The program’s goal is to choose emerging artists, each representing a different artistic practice, providing a diversity of artistic voices and approaches to be showcased in the commissioning program.
The NEO Exchange is a bold and disruptive capital markets fintech company that brings together investors and capital raisers within a fair, efficient, and service-oriented environment.