It's the first blog post for 2026!
- elainebac1
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Literary call:
CBC Nonfiction Prize - The CBC Nonfiction Prize is open from Jan. 1 to March 1, 2026.
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Events:
NEW for 2026 - Studio ART Classes
Holly Friesen says “Come paint with me in my Montreal Studio”
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At the McCord in collaboration with FIFA - January 14 | 6 p.m.
International Festival of Films on Art. The museum invites you to a screening of To Catch a Dream (Original Swahili version, with English subtitles) and Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (Original version in English, French, Dutch and Russian, with French subtitles).
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At MOMA - Ideas of Africa: Portraiture and Political Imagination is at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, from 14 December 2025 to 25 July 2026:
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The arts:
From The British Journal of Photography - Taking a stanza: The relationship between photography and poetry. Photography and poetry have a long-standing connection, and the pairing is enjoying renewed popularity. Rachel Segal Hamilton speaks with photographers and poets to find out why.
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A conversation with artist Manuel Mathieu about impact, legacy and love. 2025 was a big year for multidisciplinary artist Manuel Mathieu. He engaged with audiences globally through all five senses — from a solo exhibition in China to the unveiling of a five-piece mosaic in Montreal’s new Edouard-Monpetit REM station and the launch of a new fragrance line. He speaks with guest host Dionne Codrington about the year that was and his hopes for the future.
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The Grammy Awards are reintroducing the standalone Best Album Cover category for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in 2026, marking the first time it will be awarded as a separate category in over 50 years. The award aims to specifically recognize the visual artistry of the cover image itself, separate from the physical packaging details.
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A video by Douglas Hood called “Changes”
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Culture:
Harbin Ice Festival:
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John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, to Arthur Tolkien and his wife Mabel, née Suffield, on January 2, 1892.
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Books:
Fine Lines - Cindy Etter Turnbull
A fun-filled book about a much-overlooked aspect of North American culture: clotheslines.
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Food history:
The Middle Eastern dessert Kunafa stands at the center of a fierce debate over who created it and who makes it best — and it might just be the world's most political dessert. Host Divya Banerjee invites listeners on a journey to trace Kunafa's winding path while exploring her own "third-culture identity". Blending food, memory, and identity, the show reveals how a single dessert can hold centuries of longing, pride, and place — and invites listeners to savour the flavours of the Middle East.
Kunafa (Knafeh) Recipe
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Eye health by Dr. Brian Goldman:
Excessive screen use and dry eyes - Dry eye disease affects millions of Canadians, and more young people are being diagnosed. Among the risk factors is increased screen time. What is dry eye disease and what can you do about it? Ophthalmologist Dr. Johanna Choremis shares what you need to know.
How can I reduce my risk of computer vision syndrome? An estimated 70 per cent of people have experienced computer vision syndrome (CVS), or digital eye strain. It's a condition caused by staring at a digital screen that's too close for too long and can lead to headaches, dry or blurry eyes, and neck, shoulder or back pain. Optometrist Meenal Agarwal says simple habits like taking regular breaks can help prevent CVS.
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