May MagaScene: Awards Season Highlights, New Grant Deadlines, Publishing Workshops...

FEATURE
Magazine Award Season Highlights: Your Guide to Events and Finalists

Awards season is upon us! Join in the celebration and recognition of our industry’s talents and accomplishments... 

NEWS

Business Innovation Grants Offered through the Canada Periodical Fund

Alberta Cultural Industry Grant Program New Guidelines and Dates!

Venture Publishing Welcomes New Editors

Routes Awards Short Story Fiction Prize

2011 Summer Publishing Workshops at Simon Fraser University  

EVENTS

Alberta Literary Awards Shortlist Celebration May 24, 2011
MagNet 2011: Canada's Magazine Conference June 7-10
Magazines West and Western Magazine Awards June 17

Oilweek Rising Stars Awards Celebration June 29

3rd Annual Sugar Bowl Fundraiser August 27  

CONTESTS/CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS 

Canadian Online Publishing Awards June 24
Alberta Views Annual Short Story Contest June 30 

BLOGS

Fellow Industry Blogger's Outstanding Achievement posted May 2

Arts and Lit Mags: Alive and Well posted May 3

AMPA Goes to the Edge of Print posted May 11

Share Your People News! posted May 12

LawNow Goes All Digital posted May 16 

JOBS

Intermediate Web Designer, Soul Integrated Solutions Deadline May 26

Project Coordinator, Soul Integrated Solutions Deadline May 26

Arts and Lit Mags; Alive and Well

[This post has been updated.]
 

The Canada Council for the Arts recently released a study of benchmarks for Canadian mags based on 2010 applications to its Grants to Arts and Literary Magazines. Here’s a recap: 

• The number of titles has remained steady for the past decade sitting at 90 (60 in English and 30 en francais.
• Half a million copies were in circulation throughout the year.
• These mags served more than 75,000 subscribers.
• The arts and lit mag industry makes up a $5 million enterprise with 2/5 of revenues coming from mag sales and 2/5 from advertising sales. The remaining fifth comes from various sources.
• Overall revenue comes in at about $10 million with grants making up roughly half of all income.
• These mags generate about 200 full-time-equivalent jobs.
• Magazines are critical in the creation of “social capital”.
• Overall, it’s clear that arts and lit titles are dependent on Canada Council funding.

The study gives arts and lit publishers a sense of how their operations and costs compare against their peers, keeping in mind that many aspects are covered off by volunteers or low-paid interns. The biggest costs are overhead (30 to 36%) and editorial (21 to 30%). The full study can be viewed at magazinescanada.com/benchmarks.

Unfortunately, like most government funding, very few Alberta magazines receive Canada Council support. That said, it also speaks volumes about the tenacity these publishers possess to continue publishing their titles especially given how many titles rely on Canada Council dollars to publish. 

AMPA is always looking at ways to support this special group of magazines. If you have ideas for how AMPA can help your arts and lit title, drop us a line at ampa@albertamagazines.com or post a comment here so we can have a public chat about it! For readers, be sure to check out AMPA's 30% off promotion for arts and lit titles.

--- Colleen Seto  
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

MagaScene: Awards Finalists Announced! (issue 81/March 2011)

FEATURE

Alberta Magazine Awards Finalists!
The Shortlisted Entries for Showcase and Achievement Awards… 

NEWS
AMPA’s New Blogger-in-Residence Seto Shares Her Insight
Professional Development Grants for Canadian Culture
Shortliffe Leaves Magazines File Changes at Canadian Heritage 

EVENTS

Get Publishing 2011 At the Edge of Print 

AWARDS/CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS
Donations for Webb-Bowerman Foundation Silent Auction
2011 Editors' Choice Awards
Routes Magazine Short Story Contest
Alberta Arts Days Funding 

JOBS

Editorial Intern, Avenue Edmonton Magazine

Graphic Designer, Source Media Group

Access Copyright Grants - deadline February 1st!

It's not too late to apply for the Access Copyright Foundation's new Research grant!

Canada’s creative community is receiving a significant boost with the announcement of $300,000 in new funding for 2011. The grants will directly support the creation and dissemination of publishable Canadian works.

The Access Copyright Foundation (ACF) is partnering with the Saskatchewan Arts Board to administer the grant process. Awards are granted to Canada’s writers, visual artists and publishers to support professional development opportunities, research projects and events. All three activities are vital to ensuring that Canadians will continue to create new cultural works that will be enjoyed by their fellow citizens, and those around the world.

Applications for Research grants are currently being accepted. The application form is available at the Access Copyright Foundation website www.acfoundation.ca.

The deadline for applications is February 1, 2011.