OCAD U partners with Canada’s largest literary festival

The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) returns from September 19 to 29, 2024 at the Harbourfront Centre. Once again, OCAD University is partnering with TIFA to showcase the emerging and established voices from its Creative Writing program.

OCAD U students and faculty members from the Creative Writing program will participate in a range of events as part of Canada’s largest literary festival.

“Participating in the Toronto International Festival of Authors provides students with a sense of inclusion in the broader literary community, and it invigorates the festival with fresh new voices and perspectives” says award-winning prose poet Catherine Black, who is the Chair of the Creative Writing program and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts & Science at OCAD U.

Since its inception in 1974, TIFA has welcomed thousands of authors to its stages from more than 100 countries, including 22 Nobel Laureates and countless other award winners. This is the third year OCAD U is partnering on events with TIFA.

OCAD U events at TIFA offer professional development and experiential learning opportunities for current students as well as the occasion for audiences to connect with the University's community of talented creative writers.

Established in 2018, the Creative Writing program at OCAD U is a hands-on, studio-based undergraduate program that uniquely supports students’ development of their literary voices in the context of an art and design education. It cultivates real-world experiences for students and their work, to engage and enrich a literary ecology on and off campus as they forge a culture of transformation.

OCAD U EVENTS AT TIFA

Student Literary Cabaret
Friday, September 20, 7 to 10 p.m.
Brigantine Room, Harbourfront Centre

Join emerging writer/performers for a thrilling night of cabaret-style programming. The evening will showcase the work of new voices from OCAD U and other university creative writing communities working in a variety of forms and styles, including interdisciplinary performance, spoken word, poetry, storytelling and original music.

­­­­­­­­­­The Heart of the City: Celebrating Toronto
Thursday, September 26, 6 p.m.
Brigantine Room, Harbourfront Centre

OCAD U student writer/performers join Len Senator, Shawn Micallef and Catherine Hernandez for an evening celebrating Toronto and its art scene, featuring music, food, books, history and more!

The Blank Page Contemplation Space
Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Outdoor Tent, West Campus Grounds

An outdoor installation created by students from the OCAD U writing program, featuring looping calming audio to encourage reflection, contemplation and calm. A quiet oasis in the stimulating atmosphere of the festival.