Congratulations to the OCAD University community members who have been recognized with a Craft Award from Craft Ontario! 

Craft Ontario, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting professional craftspeople, presents these annual awards to honour outstanding talent and achievement in craft and design.

This year, five OCAD U community members, including students, faculty members and alums, were among the 19 award recipients. The recipients include:

  • Maria-Margaretta Cabana Boucher – (2023 alum, Interdisciplinary Master's in Art, Media and Design) – Melinda Mayhall Memorial Award in Indigenous Craft
  • Gaia Gia – (OCAD U student, Material Art & Design) – Lacy West Supplies
  • Par Nair – (faculty member; 2020 alum, Drawing & Painting; 2022 alum, Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art, Media and Design) – Shanks Memorial Award in Textiles
  • Dr. Nithikul Nimkulrat – (professor, Faculty of Design) – Lily Yung Memorial Award
  • Michelle Peraza – (instructor, Faculty of Art; 2018 alum, Drawing & Painting) – Leisa Rich Fibre Arts Residency Award at the Contemporary Textile Studio Co-op

Congratulations to the award recipients! Learn more about the 2026 Craft Awards.

Other Recent News

2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Curators

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create the CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. One (1) emerging Curator will receive $1,700 to curate a single channel, projection-based screening program of work from the OCAD U community. The Projections Program will be displayed at the CDCC for six-weeks in March 2027.

Call for Applicants: Future Enterprise Lab

Future Enterprise Lab is an 8-week venture design program for OCAD U students and alumni interested in entrepreneurship, creativity, and future thinking. Combining speculative fiction, strategic forecasting, and venture design, this program invites participants to imagine possible futures for Toronto and explore what kinds of businesses, collectives, nonprofits, creative practices, and community initiatives might be needed in the decades ahead. Through guided readings, collaborative workshops, horizon scanning, scenario planning, and venture development activities, participants will explore emerging social, technological, economic, environmental, and cultural trends and develop enterprise concepts designed for a changing city.