## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/) 2. Markdownify 3. Node 4. [OCAD U President’s Speaker Series features two inspiring speakers](/markdownify/node/916) January 26, 2024 # OCAD U President’s Speaker Series features two inspiring speakers ![](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/assets/media/Maria%20and%20Rajni.png.webp?itok=nW3BtKl-) ***L to R: Maria Ressa and Rajni Perera*** The newly launched, video-based [President’s Speaker Series](https://www.democracyxchange.org/news/introducing-the-ocad-u-president%E2%80%99s-speaker-series) aims to showcase compelling, engaging and unique voices on issues that are shaping the present and future of Canadian society. In partnership with the 2023 DemocracyXChange Summit, the series features the keynote addresses delivered at the summit by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate [Maria Ressa ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06t-CIBW1ak)and contemporary multimedia artist [Rajni Perera](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcSxBvBIbHk&t=1s). Ressa is a journalist and press freedom fighter. In her latest memoir, *How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future*, she delivers a wake-up call about how we cannot take our democratic freedoms for granted. She explains how the spread of misinformation through social media platforms is threatening our democracy and accelerating authoritarianism around the world. In her address, Perera speaks about the threats to artistic freedom, including funding cuts, gentrification and commercialization. She articulates the role of artists and designers in protecting democracy by providing the blueprint for “dissent, assurance, condemnation, feeling safe and feeling seen.” While these talks are from #DXC23, they remain relevant in the new year and looking ahead. The public can look forward to a keynote address from [Meta whistleblower Frances Haugen](https://www.ocadu.ca/news/meta-whistleblower-frances-haugen-headline-democracyxchange-summit) at #DXC24. The event takes place from Apr. 11 to 13. [Early bird tickets are available until Feb. 13.](https://www.democracyxchange.org/event-details/dxc24) ## 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)