The best of the best of the best of 2018

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Hi, art lovers!

It's time to look back on 2018, because reading lists and essays is as much of a New Year's tradition as making resolutions, or counting down to midnight — or paying 50x surge pricing at 2 a.m.

But before we throw to the best of our "best of 2018" coverage, a serious question for you.

Did you discover a work of art that meant a lot to you last year?

Or did you see something here on CBC Arts that made an impression?

We'd love to hear from you.

What would be on your Best of 2018 list? Send us an email, because we want to share your replies next week.

You've got to see this

Some extremely personal picks for the best movies, music, theatre and art of 2018 - One of the great things about being on this team is that we get to tell stories about our favourite things all the time, but when it comes to this list, "favourite" isn't quite strong enough. From Childish Gambino to Insurgence/Resurgence to Bao, some of these things moved us. Others made us think. The rest gave us nightmares for the last six months straight.

More of the best of 2018: Amanda Parris edition - For some team members, one blurb is not enough. Amanda Parris, host of CBC Arts: Exhibitionists, found plenty to love in 2018: Black Panther! Beychella! The Beale Street soundtrack! Many other excellent things that do not start with the letter B!

A is for Adrian Stimson and AA Bronson... - It's your A-Z guide to the exceptional LGBTQ arts and culture stories of 2018, brought to you by Queeries columnist Peter Knegt.

Without these artists, 2018's Indigenous renaissance would not have been possible - To quote Jeremy Dutcher: "Canada, you are in the midst of an Indigenous renaissance." And in all areas of arts and culture, Indigenous artists made major moves in 2018. As Alicia Elliott writes, this is just the beginning.

Happy 2019, a.k.a. Year 1 (After Nanette) - If there was anything on Netflix that had as many people talking as this game-changing comedy special from Hannah Gadsby, we don't know what it is. In this essay, author and performer Shawn Hitchins reflects on how Nanette was the personal wake-up call that transformed his 2018. 

Thank u, next year-end essay - This was the year Ariana Grande levelled up as a pop star, and she did it by embracing an emotional vulnerability uncommon for a Top 40 icon. Anne T. Donahue writes about why the superstar's big year taught her a personal lesson about finding strength in softness.

Follow this artist

Melissa Proudlock (@melissaproudlock) - Make 2019 wine for the ages. Learn how to paint with wine, just like Melissa. She'll teach you how in this video.

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Until then, wishing a happy new year to you and yours!

XOXO, CBC Arts