Deadline for Submissions: August 30, 2025
Exhibition Dates: October 24 – November 10, 2025
Location: Open Space Gallery at OCAD University, 49 McCaul Street, Toronto
Presented as part of Transforming Birthspace: a Global Colloquium (October 24–28, 2025)
We invite submissions that showcase transformative architectural design of birth spaces and places, and related research projects for an upcoming exhibition that explores and reimagines the spaces in which birth takes place. This curated exhibition is part of Transforming Birthspace: a Global Colloquium—a landmark gathering of international practitioners, researchers, artists, designers, and care providers focused on improving birth environments through critical, creative, and interdisciplinary practices.
We are seeking submissions from architects, designers, artists, interdisciplinary teams, researchers, faculty and/or students that:
improve the emotional, psychological, cultural, or physical experience of birth through design of birth spaces, places, furnishings, equipment, artworks etc.
showcase inclusive, decolonial, or trauma-informed design approaches
may present diverse birth settings, including hospitals, birth centres, and community-based spaces
explore speculative or future-oriented design ideas
challenge conventional maternity care design through innovation and collaboration
Accepted works may include:
Drawings, photos of models or actual built spaces, furniture or artworks (we are presuming digital presentations, which may include sound, video, interactive media). We will also consider videos of experts talking about or presenting birth environment research and design.
Submission Requirements:
Artist/designer/architect/researcher bio(s) (max 150 words per participant)
250–500 word description of the work and its relevance to the design of birth environment
Up to 5 images that represent the subject matter and the design quality of the proposed exhibit.
Please indicate the geographic location where the project was imagined, installed, or created. This information will be included in the exhibition to highlight the global and contextual diversity of birthspace design.
Important Dates:
Proposal submission deadline: August 30, 2025
Notification of acceptance: September 8, 2025
Final work submitted: September 29, 2025
Installation: October 17, 2025
Exhibition opening: October 24, 2025
Exhibition closes: November 10, 2025
De-installation: November 11, 2025
This exhibition is an opportunity to contribute to a growing international conversation about how birth environments can be transformed through thoughtful, inclusive, and creative design. We look forward to receiving your submission.
Questions? Contact us at transformingbirth@ocadu.ca