This year, VoCA suggests forgoing gifts altogether in favor of supporting our environment.

Envrionmental Defence Canada

If you can’t resist pressies, here’s a list of art and related gifts that last - and that support the arts in Canada:

ART METROPOLE, Toronto – Founded in 1974 by renowned artist collective General Idea, this is your one-stop shop for amazing and inexpensive artist multiples. Nota bene: This is where you can buy Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay’s DVD, I Am a Boyband.

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FLASH FORWARD. From Magenta Publishing for the Arts comes a top-quality Canadian book on of-the-moment photographers. Perfect for anyone who is into photography – a budding collector, perhaps?

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Subscription to award-winning CANADIAN MAGAZINES like the Walrus, Border Crossings or Azure – excellent reading!

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CCA BOOKSTORE, Montreal – You know you’re in a world-class city when you walk in the door, and the bookstore only reinforces this feeling. New titles include: Greek architecture and its sculpture by Ian Jenkins, Inside Toronto: urban interiors 1880s to 1920 by Sally Gibson as well as many titles en Francais.

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MIRVISH BOOKS, Toronto – shop here, if only to see the gorgeous Frank Stella mural on the back wall.

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NICHOLAS HOARE, Ottawa – There’s one in Toronto, too, but the original bookshop is our favorite. You could spend all day in there.

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Artist editions at the VANCOUVER ART GALLERY – For someone you really love, there’s the Rodney Graham upside-down tree. It’s his most famous artwork and is only $475 unframed. (edition of 500)

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MERCER UNION sale, Toronto – the artist-run-centre is having its annual member’s show and sale this Thursday December 14th at 8 pm, with works by Arnaud Maggs, Derek Sullivan and many more - all priced at $100. Hurry!

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PLUG IN, Winnipeg – Five Winnipegers have contributed to this portfolio, including Paul Butler, Bonnie Marin and Simon Hughes. The portfolio is $1,000 or $300 for each unframed work.

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GARDINER MUSEUM shop, Toronto – You might not think so, but the Gardiner shop is a great place for artist made ceramic objets d’art…and jewellery by Krystyne Griffin.

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