A college of the book cover for As for Protocols and Convivialities.

DOUBLE BOOK LAUNCH: with Re’al Christian (As For Protocols) and Michael Nardone (Convivialities), in partnership with Vera List Centre for Art and Politics

October 3, 2025 - October 3, 2025
Join us at Critical Distance on Friday, October 3, 6:30 – 8 pm for the Toronto launch of two new books in conversation: As for Protocols (Vera List Center for Art and Politics/Amherst College Press, 2025) and Convivialities (Talonbooks, 2025). New York-based writer, editor, and curator Re’al Christian, co-editor of As for Protocols, will be joined by Montréal-based writer and editor Michael Nardone, editor of Convivialities, for a conversation on the editorial/curatorial practices and perspectives at the core of their two volumes. Both books emerge out of sustained engagements with writers and artists; together, Christian and Nardone will consider how the array of artists and writers involved in their editions articulate the contemporary conditions, relational affinities, and protocols of making.…Find out more
A large assemblage of colourful abstract paintings takes up an entire wall in an artist's cluttered studio

EXHIBITION: The Contingent Image: John Climenhage with Critical Distance

September 20, 2025 - November 15, 2025
Artist: John Climenhage Curator: CDCC Director, Shani K Parsons On view September 20 — November 15, 2025 Opening Saturday, 9/20 in conjunction with Ontario Culture Days at 401 Richmond, RSVP for the Hands-on Curatorial Workshop Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) is pleased to present The Contingent Image, an artistic and curatorial collaboration and exhibition-as-research developed by Peterborough-based artist John Climenhage in conversation with CDCC Director Shani Khoo Parsons. Featuring an expansive new body of work that Climenhage has been developing since 2015, The Contingent Image is the artist’s first solo exhibition in Toronto in over 20 years.  The Contingent Image comprises three large-scale wall-based assemblages of 170+ paintings selected from a series of over 250 panels. Following a decisive…Find out more
Installation view of Jenelle Smith's photography work "Gia" in front of a red brick wall at 180 Shaw Street. The photograph captures a leafy foreground with a stem that reaches out and covers the face of a person going down the stairs.

PUBLIC ART: Billboard on Shaw by Jenelle Smith

August 6, 2025 - September 14, 2025

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD), in partnership with Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC), is pleased to present this Public Art Billboard and Exhibition Essay Career Launcher featuring artwork by Jenelle Smith and a commissioned essay by Kathleen Foran-Spragge.

Find out more

Dancemakers Symposium: What Can Dance Curation Do?

July 17, 2025 - July 18, 2025

Critical Distance is pleased to partner with Dancemakers for their inaugural symposium, What Can Dance Curation Do? This two-day gathering brings together artists, curators, and researchers to explore emergent practices in dance curation through a series of talks, panels, and provocations.

Find out more

Study Hall

February 14, 2025 - April 26, 2025

Critical Distance is pleased to welcome you to STUDY HALL, our newest initiative in support of critical curatorial inquiry, community, and practice. This Winter we’re opening up our space and our program to explore more nimble, flexible, responsive and mutually supportive frameworks for curatorial commoning and collaboration. 

All are welcome to drop in and visit, ask questions, peruse our featured publications, and join in the conversation on curating today. Outside public hours, visit our Instagram page @critical.distance for links to our survey, e-Shop, and newsletter subscription form, so you can be in the know on upcoming programs, events, and other ways to get involved.

Find out more