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Partner With Us

Partner with OCAD U to collaborate with thought leaders driving creativity and innovation

Partnership areas

International collaboration

OCAD U has partnerships with more than 80 schools and organizations around the world. Partner with us on international exchanges, programs, research projects or other innovative collaborations.

Custom giving, sponsorship and collab packages

Support the next generation of artists and designers through annual giving, donations, sponsorships or custom plans for innovative programs. We want to create meaningful connections between you and our students.

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Space Rentals

Think outside the box and host your next event or film shoot at OCAD University’s iconic campus in the heart of downtown Toronto.

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RBC Centre For Emerging Artists and Designers

We can help connect you with our talented students and alumni for art and design commissions, projects, internships and unique collaborations based on your needs.

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Research and Innovation

As Canada's university of the imagination, OCAD University offers a depth and breadth of undergraduate and graduate critical inquiry. The university engages in art and design research and creative practices through a diversity of perspectives, methods and approaches. Due to OCADU's pivotal role in maintaining a community of existing artists and designers, as well as training the new generations of artists and designers, it also functions as a cultural institution within the City of Toronto, with influence nationally and internationally.

Research Partnerships

Research Projects

International programs

Exploring Photography Through New Lenses: OCAD U Students Collaborate with Benilde in the Philippines

Ursula Handleigh, Assistant Professor of Photography in the Faculty of Art, led 11 students on a creative exploration in Manila, Philippines. In partnership with De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, the project "Experiential Photography" encouraged students to deeply engage with alternative and sustainable photographic processes, adapting to the local environment and resources.

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Designing for Impact: OCAD U Students Collaborate with SASANE in Nepal

In May of 2024, Associate Professor, Social Innovation Design, Sarah Tranum led thirteen undergraduate design students from across six programs in the Faculty of Design, to Pokhara, Nepal, where they worked with staff and participants from SASANE, a survivor-led organization that works to raise awareness and end human trafficking in Nepal.

Building Cultural Bridges through Animation: A Collaborative Journey Between the Philippines and Canada

OCAD University recently embarked on an exciting collaboration with iAcademy in Manila, Philippines, under the leadership of Philippe Blanchard, Chair of the Experimental Animation Program at OCAD U.

Preservation And Perseverance: Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Practice In Thailand

Under the guidance of Jennie Suddick, Adjunct Professor and Manager, International Programs & Collaboration, a transformative collaboration with the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute (ISDSI) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, has been enriching the dialogue between art and ecology.

OCAD U Celebrates Global Artistic Voices with HOMEBOUND - International Virtual Exhibition

The International Programs & Collaborations Office at OCAD University is excited to announce a collaborative international virtual exhibition curated by Emiliya Volchenko, a third-year Graphic Design student, and Isabella Nicastro, a third-year Drawing and Painting student.

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About OCAD U

Founded in 1876, OCAD U is dedicated to art and design education, practice and research and to knowledge and invention across a wide range of disciplines. OCAD U continuously builds on its traditional, studio-based strengths, adding new approaches to learning that champion cross-disciplinary practice, collaboration and the integration of emerging technologies. In the Age of Imagination, members of the OCAD U community are uniquely qualified to act as catalysts for the next advances in culture, technology and quality of life for all Canadians.

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OCAD U History