OCAD

OCAD University, commonly known as OCAD, is a public university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, specializing in art and design education and research. Its origins lie in the Ontario School of Art, founded in 1876, which later became the Ontario College of Art and then the Ontario College of Art and Design. The institution adopted the name OCAD University after attaining university status in the early 21st century. The campus is located at 100 McCaul Street in downtown Toronto, near Grange Park and the Art Gallery of Ontario.

OCAD University offers undergraduate programs leading to Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees, as well as graduate studies and continuing education in art, design, and related disciplines. The curriculum emphasizes studio-based practice, experimental media, critical inquiry, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Facilities include traditional studios, digital labs, printmaking and sculpture spaces, and student galleries and exhibition spaces.

The university engages with Toronto’s cultural ecosystem through partnerships with galleries, nonprofits, and industry, supporting typography, contemporary art, game design, fashion, and public art projects. It maintains research activities in both practice-based and theoretical domains, fostering innovation at the intersection of art, design, and culture. OCAD University is regarded as a leading Canadian institution for art and design education, contributing to professional training and contemporary discourse through its faculty, students, and alumni.