## Breadcrumb
1. [Home](/)
2. Markdownify
3. Node
4. [Record turnout at Toronto’s largest free art and design exhibition](/markdownify/node/3362)
May 13, 2025
# Record turnout at Toronto’s largest free art and design exhibition
Top left: visitors touring exhibitions; top right: President Ana Serrano with longtime supporters Rosalie and Isadore Sharp; bottom left: opening night celebration in Butterfield Park; bottom right: visitors examine an exhibit.
Toronto’s largest free art and design exhibition, GradEx 110, attracted 42,500 at OCAD University from May 7 to 11. The energetic crowd was the largest since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual graduate exhibition featured work by more than 800 emerging digital media creators, artists and designers.
Several prominent guests joined in celebrating the work of the 2024-25 graduating class at the opening night reception on May 7, including Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Nolan Quinn; Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Lorne Coe; OCAD U alum and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow; Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik; and longtime supporters Rosalie and Isadore Sharp.
In her welcoming remarks at the opening reception, OCAD U President and Vice-Chancellor Ana Serrano thanked guests for their generous, collaborative support. She highlighted Toronto’s affection for GradEx and emphasized the University’s vital role as a vibrant hub and incubator for the creative industries.
The [online version of the GradEx exhibition](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/exhibition/details/d5aa1046-27b1-4830-98d9-37f7fc3d82e0) remains available for viewing, including work by the [16 recipients of the 2024-25 OCAD University Medal.](https://www.ocadu.ca/news/ocad-u-announces-2024-25-medal-recipients) For those who wish to support emerging talent and local artists, select pieces are available for purchase through the online exhibition.
[**About GradEx 110**](https://www.ocadu.ca/gradex)
On May 7, OCAD U kicked off the five-day GradEx 110 with an opening night celebration in Butterfield Park. The annual graduate exhibition included a presentation of poetry, music and theatre by OCAD U Creative Writing grads on May 9, a showcase of animated films, student sales of their work, and introduced the Alumni Marketplace, an opportunity for guests to purchase original artwork and handmade goods while supporting emerging artists and designers.
This year’s presenting sponsors were Hullmark and BentallGreenOak, along with opening night sponsors 13th Street Winery and Collective Arts and media sponsor blogTO.
## 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)