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  Caribbean Writers in the Running and the Road Is Talking Ian Williams April marks the beginning of Book Award season, and this week has seen significant prize announcements from 3 different Canadian awards, impacting Caribbean authors and poets. The $130,000 Griffin Poetry Prize , announced yesterday morning in Toronto, unveiled its 2024 shortlist. This year, no Caribbean Canadian made the list, but Ishion Hutchinson from Port Antonio, Jamaica, is among the five poets vying for the prestigious June 5th poetry prize. Ishion Hutchinson The 40-year-old Jamaican poet is nominated for his book “School of Instructions,” which delves into the experiences of West Indian volunteer soldiers in British regiments during World War I. The poetry collection captures the psychological and physical challenges faced by these Black soldiers in the Middle East theatre of war, refracting their struggle against the colonial power they served. The narratives of the soldiers intertwine with the story of...

 THE THREE BIG ART SHORTS (THIS MONTH) Art Scholarship For Black Young Artists Announced The Giller Foundation (aka the Scotiabank Giller Prize) has introduced its new Giller Mantella Scholarship, a new program aimed at supporting high school graduates across Canada who are interested in pursuing further education in creative writing and literature. The scholarship will provide $10,000 each year to three would be authors and will run for an initial three-year period.   The program is specifically designed to promote diversity and inclusion among Black, Indigenous, and racialized youth who aspire to enhance their post-secondary education. By offering financial aid to students who may lack access to traditional scholarships, the initiative hopes to make a meaningful impact on their academic and career pursuits. Scholarship applications will open be accepting starting in March 2024. Eligible candidates must identify as Black, Indigenous, or racialized and demonstrate outstanding ...