page_title: OCAD University
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: OCAD University / History
caption_attribution_description: Ontario College of Art
context_page_description: Ontario College of Art & Design University, commonly known as OCAD University, is a public university of art and design located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is adjacent to the Art Gallery of Ontario, within the Grange Park neighbourhood. The school is Canada's largest and oldest educational institution for art and design. OCAD U offers courses through the Faculties of Art, Design, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and alternative programs. The enabling legislation is the Ontario College of Art and Design University Act, 2002.
context_section_description: The institution was established by the Ontario Society of Artists in 1876 as the Ontario School of Art, whose objective it was to provide professional artistic training, and further the development of art education in Ontario. The Ontario Society of Artists passed the motion to "draw up a scheme" for a school of art on 4 April 1876, and the first School of Art opened on 30 October 1876, funded by a government grant of $1,000.
  In the late-19th and early 20th centuries, the institution was renamed three times. From 1886 to 1890 the institution was renamed the Toronto Art School. From 1890 to 1912, the school was renamed the Central Ontario School of Art and Industrial Design. In 1912, the institution became the Ontario College of Art (OCA). The institution remained the Ontario College of Art until 1996, when it was renamed the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD).
  In 1971–72, Roy Ascott radically challenged the pedagogy and curriculum structure of the College.
  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.  There was some controversy as two faculty members resigned over the changes.
  In an effort to better reflect its status as a university, the institution adopted the term university in its name, formally becoming the Ontario College of Art and Design University in 2010. In the same year, Tom Traves, then president of Dalhousie University in Halifax, conducted a confidential review of how OCAD was managed. He found that the number of senior faculty and administrators was excessive. Diamond adopted most of his 30 recommendations, including increased Decanal autonomy. OCAD University was awarded full degree awarding powers including honorary degrees on 1 July 2020 by the Government of Ontario.
caption: Inside a class at the Ontario College of Art in 1931.
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