A Comprehensive History of OCAD University

OCAD University, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, stands as the country's largest and oldest educational institution dedicated to art and design. Formerly known as the Ontario College of Art and Design, OCAD U has a rich history that stretches back to the late 19th century. The university's journey reflects the evolving landscape of art education in Canada, marked by periods of transformation, adaptation, and expansion.

The Genesis of OCAD: The Ontario Society of Artists and the Birth of an Art School

The origins of OCAD University are intertwined with the Ontario Society of Artists, an organization that recognized the importance of fostering art education within the province. On April 4, 1876, the Ontario Society of Artists made the pivotal decision to formulate a plan for establishing an art school. This initiative culminated in the opening of the first School of Art on October 30, 1876, supported by a government grant of $1,000. The first school was at 14 King Street West. It had 25 students. Artist Thomas Mower Martin was the first director. Other artists like Robert Harris and William Cruikshank also taught there. The school's early mission was to provide professional training in art.

From Ontario School of Art to OCAD University: A Century of Transformation

Over the years, OCAD University has undergone several name changes, each reflecting its growth and evolving focus.

Ontario School of Art (1876-1886): Founded by the Ontario Society of Artists, the school's initial aim was to provide professional training in art.
Toronto Art School (1886-1890)
Central Ontario School of Art and Industrial Design (1890-1912): This name change reflected the school's expanded curriculum to include industrial design.
Ontario College of Art (OCA) (1912-1996): In 1912, the Ontario government allowed the school to give out diplomas. It became the Ontario College of Art, and George Agnew Reid was its first principal.
Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) (1996-2010): The addition of "Design" to the name in 1996 acknowledged the growing importance of design education within the institution.
OCAD University (2010-present): University status was granted in 2002, but the official name change occurred in 2010.

In 1882, the Ontario Department of Education took over the school. It moved to the Toronto Normal School. In 1886, the school moved again to a building near Queen Street and Yonge Street. The Ontario Society of Artists started sponsoring the school again in 1890. They renamed it the Central Ontario School of Art and Industrial Design. In 1910, the school moved to 1 College Street because the Princess Theatre was torn down.

Curriculum Evolution: Adapting to the Changing Needs of Art and Design Education

OCAD University's curriculum has undergone significant transformations throughout its history, reflecting the changing landscape of art and design education.

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Early Years: The initial curriculum focused on traditional art disciplines, providing students with a foundation in drawing, painting, and sculpture.
Expansion into Design: In 1945, OCA started a design school. This made its teaching wider.
The Ascott Era: In 1971-72, Roy Ascott radically challenged the pedagogy and curriculum structure of the College.
Diamond's Emphasis on Academics: In 2008, OCAD president Sara Diamond changed the pedagogy. She emphasised academics over studio time and required full-time instructors to hold an advanced degree.

The OCAD Campus: A Blend of History and Modernity

OCAD University's campus is as unique as the institution itself. Unlike traditional universities with centralized campuses, OCAD U's buildings are integrated into the urban fabric of downtown Toronto.

Early Locations: During the university’s years as a nascent institution, it had relocated to several different buildings in Toronto, many of which have been decommissioned or demolished over time.
The Main Building: George Agnew Reid designed the first building owned by the college. It was the first building in Canada made just for teaching artists and designers. The college moved into this new building in 1921. Reid wanted visual arts to be a formal part of education. The Main Building traces its roots to the first building that the school constructed, which was also the first building in Canada specially built for art education. Now known as the George A. Reid in the Georgian style and opened on 30 September 1921. On 17 January 1957, the first extension, a modernist building known today as the A. J. Casson Wing, was completed and was opened. Two more extensions to the building were subsequently added in 1963 and 1967.
The Sharp Centre for Design: Through Rod Robbie of Robbie/Young + Wright Architects, Will Alsop of Alsop Architects was made aware of the project and was eventually selected in 2002. A joint venture was formed between the two firms and the new building, now known as the Sharp Centre for Design, was completed in 2004. The design, which came out of a process of participatory design, consists of a box four storeys off the ground supported by a series of multi-coloured pillars at different angles and is often described as a tabletop. The $42.5-million expansion and redevelopment has received numerous awards, including the first Royal Institute of British Architects Worldwide Award, the award of excellence in the "Building in Context" category at the Toronto Architecture and Urban Design Awards, and was deemed the most outstanding technical project overall in the 2005 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards.
Expansion and Integration: As its name suggests, the Annex is an interconnected building, which shares its ground floor with a small retail concourse that serves the local, residential, and university communities. A distinct architectural feature of 49-51 McCaul is its unique placement within and around the McCaul Loop, a century-old streetcar terminus.

The campus in the Grange Park and Entertainment District precincts is accessible by public transportation via St. Patrick and Osgoode stations on Line 1, as well as the 505 Dundas and 501 Queen streetcar routes. Physically, the campus’s buildings vary in age and aesthetics, ranging from the revival architecture of the 19th century to the more contemporary design language of the present.

Libraries and Museums: Resources for Learning and Inspiration

OCAD University boasts a range of libraries and exhibition spaces that support its students' artistic and academic pursuits.

Dorothy H. Hoover Library: The main library on campus is the Dorothy H. Hoover Library, located in the Annex Building. The Dorothy H. Hoover library is a general research library for art and design that bears the name of the university's first head librarian. Located on the second floor of the Annex Building, the library offers several information programs and resources to support academic research for students and faculty members. It opened in 1987 and is a member of four library consortiums, including the Art Libraries Society of North America and the Ontario Council of University Libraries.
The Learning Zone: The Learning Zone, also located in the Annex Building, houses the OCAD Zine Library, Art & Design Annuals and the Visionnaire periodical collection. Since 2009, the Learning Zone has been located on the ground level, functioning as an open study area and computer lab for individual and group work; it also contains a small selection of zines and printed matter made by current and former students.
Onsite [at] OCAD U: Created in 2007 as the OCAD Professional Gallery before taking on its current name in 2010, Onsite [at] OCAD U is features works by national and international professional artists and designers.
Student Gallery: The Student Gallery curates and features works submitted by current OCAD students and recent alumni. The Student Gallery used to be located at 285 Dundas St. West and 76 McCaul Street. It was created in the early 1970s
Graduate Gallery: The Graduate Gallery is a gallery for graduate students and research faculty.
Xpace: The OCAD Student Union runs a gallery called the Xpace Cultural Centre, located off-campus. (Hence Xpace, which stands for "external space.") It aims to provide students and emerging artists a space to exhibit their work in a professional gallery setting, and to better respond to "contemporary issues in theory and aesthetics" in the community through the use of shorter time frames in its programming.
Open Gallery: The Open Gallery is an exhibition space inside the Inclusive Design Institute building at 49 McCaul Street.

Research and Innovation: Shaping the Future of Art and Design

OCAD University is committed to research and innovation, fostering a dynamic environment for creative exploration and development.

Digital Media Research + Innovation Institute (DMRII): OCAD conducts research under the umbrella of the Digital Media Research + Innovation Institute (DMRII) which focuses on creative applied research in digital expression, digital immersion, digital experience and digital media industries. It consist of 19 research labs, including: the Ambient Experience Lab, focusing on experience design the Art Research Centre the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC), focusing on inclusive design with an emphasis on information and communications technology the Social Body Lab, focusing on the interaction between the human body and the external world, which includes material research and wearable technology the Game:Play Lab, which explores, critiques, and expands the nature of the gaming experience through play, theory, and practice
Centre for Innovation in Information Visualization and Data-Driven Design (CIV-DDD): the Centre for Innovation in Information Visualization and Data-Driven Design (CIV-DDD), led by York University and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, is a 5-year research initiative launched in March 2010 to address "innovation and training in information and scientific visualization in Ontario" and consists of a team each from York University, OCAD University (directed by Sara Diamond) and the University of Toronto, 14 industry partners, and a number of international collaborators
Inclusive Design Institute (IDI): the Inclusive Design Institute (IDI), directed by Jutta Treviranus and funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, is a regional research network for inclusive design founded in 2008 and officially launched on 24 May 2012, with the aim to "address the challenge of designing our information and communication systems (ICT) so that they work for all potential users, including users with disabilities, varying language needs and diverse cultural preferences"; it consists of eight core postsecondary partners (OCAD University, University of Toronto, Ryerson University, York University, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Sheridan College, George Brown College and Seneca College) and over 100 collaborating organizations.
Imagination Catalyst: Commercialization of research is supported by two incubators: the Imagination Catalyst, directed by the AVP Research and Graduate Studies and coordinated by the Digital Futures Implementation office, which provides incubator support for students, alumni, and faculty and was established in August 2011 through the merger of the Digital Futures Accelerator and the Design Incubator
MEIC convergence centre: and the MEIC convergence centre, an industry mobile incubator directed by the MEIC, a not for profit association of mobile industry stakeholders and academia.

Academic Programs: Nurturing Creative Talent

OCAD University offers a diverse range of academic programs across its three faculties: Art, Design, and Liberal Arts and Sciences.

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Undergraduate Programs: OCAD U offers a Bachelor of Arts (Visual and Critical Studies). The school combines a studio-based education with liberal studies, which is recognised with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), a Bachelor of Design (BDes)
Graduate Programs: an Interdisciplinary Master's in Art Media and Design (MA, MFA or MDes), a Master of Fine Arts in Criticism and Curatorial Practice (MFA), a Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation (MDes), an Executive Master of Design in Advertising (EMDes), a Master of Design in Inclusive Design (MDes), and a Graduate Program in Digital Futures (Graduate Diploma and MA, MDes, MFA).

OCAD University gives out different types of degrees. These include Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Design, and Bachelor of Fine Arts for undergraduate students. For graduate students, it offers Master of Arts, Master of Design, and Master of Fine Arts.

Governance and Administration: Leading OCAD University into the Future

OCAD University is governed by a board of governors and a senate, operating under the authority of the Ontario College of Art and Design University Act.

Board of Governors: As a publicly funded university, OCAD U operates under a bicameral system with a board of governors and a senate empowered by provincial legislation, the Ontario College of Art and Design University Act. The Act was last amended in 2010 when the institution assumed its present name. The university's board of governors is charged with managing university affairs and guiding major operational decisions. The board has 18 members, including six individuals appointed by provincial government and two members elected by OCAD University alumni.
Senate: The senate is in charge of the university's education rules.
Chancellor: The chancellor serves as the titular head of the university and is appointed by the board of governors to a four-year term.
President: The board of governors is also empowered to appoint the university president, who acts as the chief executive officer for the university and on the board's behalf with respect to the institution's operations.

Student Life: A Vibrant and Diverse Community

OCAD University's student body is a diverse and engaged community, representing a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.

Student Demographics: The university's student body currently includes 4,890 full- and part-time undergraduate students, as well as 330 full- and part-time graduate students.
OCAD Student Union (OCADSU): The OCAD Student Union (OCADSU) represents the university's student body population and is a member organization of the Canadian Federation of Students.
Indigenous Education Council: The Indigenous Education Council was established at the university in 2008 with a mandate "to identify and strengthen collaboration and partnerships with Indigenous communities, government bodies and other associations to promote and advance access, retention, and degree completion for Indigenous learners".

Notable Alumni and Faculty: Shaping the World of Art and Design

OCAD University has a long and distinguished history of producing influential artists and designers.

Group of Seven: Several individuals are associated with the university either as alumni, or members of its administration or faculty. Several alumni and faculty have gained prominence in the field of visual arts and design. This includes all the original members from the Group of Seven: Franklin Carmichael, A. J. Casson, A. Y. Jackson, Franz Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J. E. H. MacDonald, and Frederick Varley
Other Notable Figures: as well as several members from the Canadian Group of Painters and the Painters Eleven, including Anna Savage, George Pepper, Yvonne McKague Housser, Jack Bush, and Harold Town. Other notable alumni and faculty members from the institution include Barbara Astman, Aba Bayefsky, J. W. Beatty, David Blackwood, David Bolduc, Dennis Burton, Ian Carr-Harris, Charles Comfort, Graham Coughtry, Greg Curnoe, Ken Danby, Azadeh Elmizadeh, Allan Fleming, Richard Gorman, Fred S.

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