Ignite Gallery 2025 Call for Curators

Application Deadline: Monday, May 13, 2025, 8:00 AM ET

Click here to learn more about this opportunity.

Apply via Typeform here!

 

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Ignite Gallery have partnered to co-create a Career Launcher for emerging Curators. The opportunity will select one (1) emerging curator to curate an exhibition at Ignite Gallery for the 2025 program cycle from Ignite’s annual call for artists. The selected applicant will receive curatorial guidance from the Coordinators of Ignite Gallery at all points throughout the project. 

Located inside OCAD University’s Ada Slaight Exhibition Centre, Ignite Gallery is a contemporary gallery exhibiting current and recent emerging talent from Canada’s leading Art and Design University. 

Ignite Gallery is on the homelands of the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg, and the Wendat. Ignite Gallery sets our intentions to live within the laws of these host nations and to building meaningful relationships with the lands and waters.  

Click here to see photos of Ignite Gallery.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

The selected emerging curator will: 

  • Curate an exhibition of five (5) to eight (8) artists from the Ignite Gallery Call for Submissions in June 2025.
  • Work closely with Ignite Gallery Coordinators, CEAD and artists.  
  • Meet with Ignite Gallery Coordinators throughout the project.
  • Contact artists to coordinate works to be shown in the exhibition with the support of the Ignite Coordinators.
  • Be present for install, opening reception and take-down. Ignite Gallery staff will be present to support and advise on installation, pick-up and take-down.
  • Write a short 250-word curatorial essay to be displayed alongside the exhibition and on promotional material.

KEY DATES

  • June 17, 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00: Meet with Ignite Gallery Coordinators to review applications from the call for artists. Applications will be sent in advance for review. Historically, approximately 200 application are submitted.
  • Select a 3 week time slot in Ignite Gallery’s programming window with Coordinators: September, 2025 to February 2026.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
 

Please provide the following information in one PDF document:

  • Full contact information (Name, phone, and email)
  • Current resumé or CV
  • Website and/or social media
  • A short curatorial bio (50 words max)
  • Examples of past curatorial projects (individual submissions or curatorial collectives) in a PDF including: 
     - A selection of images (maximum 10 images per application or 5 minutes of time-based media not exceeding 30 MB). 
     - An image list, with artist name, title, year, medium, and size where applicable.

PARTNER

Ignite Gallery
www.ocadu.ca/gallery/ignite-gallery

SecondFloor
100 McCaul Street
Toronto, ON M5T1W1

 

ELIGIBILITY

  • Current OCAD U undergraduate students who have completed 15+ credits and will be graduating in 2025,
  • or current OCAD U Master's students graduating in 2025.

Curatorial collectives are welcome to apply as long as every member of the group meets the eligibility criteria above. One representative curator from the group must assume the role as the key contact for the collective. One (1) Project fee will be awarded to the group.

*Priority may be given to applicants who have not previously received a Career Launcher opportunity

**If you have already received this opportunity in a previous year, you are not eligible to apply

RATE

$1,200 Project Fee

 

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTION
 

Apply via Typeform here


For more info about this and other Career Launchers visit www.careerlaunchers.format.com