$1 million in renewed support for OCAD U’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers

OCAD University is pleased to announce the renewed commitment of $1 million from the RBC Foundation over the next three years. This generous contribution will play a pivotal role in elevating and enhancing the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists and Designers (RBC CEAD) while also bolstering the RBC Continuing Studies Professional Skills Fund.  

Established in 2013, the RBC CEAD is committed to supporting the early-career advancement of all students and recent alums at OCAD U. It was renamed in 2021 in recognition of the RBC Foundation’s initial $1 million gift to the University.  

“At RBC, our commitment to the arts includes supporting artists in the earliest stages of their careers and helping them bridge the gap from ‘emerging’ to ‘established’,” said Mark Beckles, Vice President, Social Impact and Innovation, RBC. “We are thrilled to continue our support of OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists and Designers, to help even more emerging artists make their mark.”

Over the past 10 years, OCAD U students have benefited from hands-on learning opportunities, practical career training and mentorship opportunities with industry leaders. The RBC CEAD’s objective is to boost the employability and entrepreneurial potential of students and recent graduates, transforming them into career-ready professionals who drive creativity and innovation. 

The new funding will be used to meet the rapidly growing demand for RBC CEAD programming and increase the offerings available to students and alums. The RBC CEAD offers more than a dozen career development initiatives including Experiential Learning Placements, the esteemed Career Launchers program, Creative Professionals-In-Residence, Coffee Chats series, support for Creative Entrepreneurship and the Ten Thousand Coffees OCAD U hub. These programs have generated thousands of opportunities for students and recent alums that range from commissioned artworks to gallery exhibitions and jobs in the creative and cultural sectors. Students and alums build meaningful, lasting relationships within the creative community and industry. Over 4000 students and alums access these programs annually, giving them an important step toward early career success.

“We are deeply grateful to the RBC Foundation for their renewed $1 million commitment,” says Ana Serrano, OCAD U’s President and Vice-Chancellor. “Their generous support drives the transformative work of the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists and Designers, empowering OCAD U students and alums with invaluable opportunities for career advancement and creative excellence.” 

Facilitating Early-Career Progression and Skill Enhancement

The RBC Foundation’s gift will also support the RBC Continuing Studies Professional Skills Fund which provides emerging creative professionals who demonstrate financial need the opportunity to acquire and upgrade the skills required for today’s creative economy. The fund offers tuition relief for students pursuing an OCAD U Continuing Studies Certificate in programs including Business Skills for Creative Professionals, Digital Media Skills, Graphic Design and Visual Communication as well as User Experience Design and Development.   

The RBC CEAD has become integral to the OCAD U experience. With the support of the RBC Foundation, we are poised to further champion the early-career advancement of OCAD U students and recent alums.

About OCAD University

OCAD University, Canada's largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. We embrace collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design. Our students benefit from hands-on studio learning in small classrooms and have access to state-of-the art shops and studios fro both traditional and digital creation. Alongside a diverse and supportive team of instructors and peers, our students gain employable skills. Our graduates work in different sectors such as urban planning, environmental design, gaming, film, animation, publishing, illustration, graphic design, visual arts and arts administration.