Arts & Culture

Michael Tilson Thomas celebrates 80th birthday with a final bow in San Francisco

The Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition crowned Vancouver pianist Linda Ruan the 48th winner in its history at Brandon University this past weekend. 

Founded in 1976, the annual competition – which rotates between pianists, string players and vocalists – is a unique celebration of Canadian contemporary classical music with the recital programs of the finalists required to contain over 50 percent of its works from Canadian composers from after 1950.  

Much like its subject, the idea for Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s latest book came from humble origins: the creek near her home where she enjoyed cross-country skiing. 

“The creek is a fairly small creek that I think is a fixture in the book, but also a fixture in my life because it’s the body of water that I think I spend the most time with every day,” she says. 

PTE in Concert celebrates motherhood with Dear Mom 

It's Canadian federal election day — a celebration of democracy, chilly morning lineups, and the undeniable satisfaction of scratching that pencil across the ballot. Whether you’re proudly wearing your “I Voted” sticker or stress-snacking through the results, the right music makes everything better.

Here’s your election day playlist, proudly non-American — and proudly a little extra Canadian:

The City of Winnipeg has a new poet laureate for 2025-2025.  

The Winnipeg Arts Council announced that award-winning writer Jennifer Still will be assuming the role. Still succeeds Chimwemwe Undi as the fourth poet laureate since the Winnipeg Arts Council launched the program back in 2018.  

As National Poetry Month draws to a close, local poets are ensuring that it goes out with a slam – a poetry slam, that is. 

The Winnipeg Poetry Slam is hosting the first qualifier of its 2025 season this week, and it represents the first chance that aspiring slam poets have to share their works not only in the city, but on a national level as well. 

Classic 107 is setting sail for Sweden this week! From Monday, April 28, through Friday, May 2, tune in during the 1 p.m. hour as we feature the lush, lively orchestral works of one of Sweden’s most beloved composers: Hugo Alfvén. 

Over 100 poets and over 500 poems – both record numbers – were submitted for the 10th annual Writes of Spring event presented by Plume Winnipeg. Now, thirteen poems will be shared by their authors at their celebration event at McNally Robinson Booksellers.  

Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers will close off their 60th anniversary season with two unique commentaries on relationships, be they interpersonal or with the wider world.