## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/) 2. Markdownify 3. Node 4. [OCAD U partners with Canada’s largest literary festival ](/markdownify/node/2676) September 9, 2024 # OCAD U partners with Canada’s largest literary festival ![](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/assets/media/pexels-pixabay-159866_0.jpg.webp?itok=EawwlhK-) The [Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA)](https://festivalofauthors.ca/) returns from September 19 to 29, 2024 at the Harbourfront Centre. Once again, OCAD University is partnering with TIFA to showcase the emerging and established voices from its Creative Writing program. OCAD U students and faculty members from the Creative Writing program will participate in a range of events as part of Canada’s largest literary festival. “Participating in the Toronto International Festival of Authors provides students with a sense of inclusion in the broader literary community, and it invigorates the festival with fresh new voices and perspectives” says award-winning prose poet Catherine Black, who is the Chair of the Creative Writing program and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts & Science at OCAD U. Since its inception in 1974, TIFA has welcomed thousands of authors to its stages from more than 100 countries, including 22 Nobel Laureates and countless other award winners. This is the third year OCAD U is partnering on events with TIFA. OCAD U events at TIFA offer professional development and experiential learning opportunities for current students as well as the occasion for audiences to connect with the University's community of talented creative writers. Established in 2018, the Creative Writing program at OCAD U is a hands-on, studio-based undergraduate program that uniquely supports students’ development of their literary voices in the context of an art and design education. It cultivates real-world experiences for students and their work, to engage and enrich a literary ecology on and off campus as they forge a culture of transformation. **OCAD U EVENTS AT TIFA** [**Student Literary Cabaret**](https://festivalofauthors.ca/event/student-literary-cabaret-2024/) Friday, September 20, 7 to 10 p.m. Brigantine Room, Harbourfront Centre Join emerging writer/performers for a thrilling night of cabaret-style programming. The evening will showcase the work of **new voices from OCAD U** and other university creative writing communities working in a variety of forms and styles, including interdisciplinary performance, spoken word, poetry, storytelling and original music. [­­­­­­­­­­**The Heart of the City: Celebrating Toronto**](https://festivalofauthors.ca/event/the-heart-of-the-city/) Thursday, September 26, 6 p.m. Brigantine Room, Harbourfront Centre **OCAD U student writer/performers** join Len Senator, Shawn Micallef and Catherine Hernandez for an evening celebrating Toronto and its art scene, featuring music, food, books, history and more! [**The Blank Page Contemplation Space**](https://festivalofauthors.ca/event/ocadu-blank-page-installation/) Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Outdoor Tent, West Campus Grounds An outdoor installation created by **students from the OCAD U** writing program, featuring looping calming audio to encourage reflection, contemplation and calm. A quiet oasis in the stimulating atmosphere of the festival. ## 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)