New CPF funding formula puts the emphasis on reaching readers

At long last, Canadian Heritage has released its revised formula for support under the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF). The new rules under the Aid to Publishers (ATP) segment, the core of the program, had been significantly delayed and a good many publishers have been anxious about the changes being contemplated.The new formula is based on circulation levels and success in reaching readers (rather

BC bringing up the rear in arts & culture funding

British Columbia is dragging up the rear when it comes to support for arts and culture, according to a story in Georgia Straight, based on Statistics Canada data.For 2008-09, provincial per-capita spending averaged $92—only Ontario and B.C. came in under that figure, with B.C. last of all at $62. B.C. also came last in per-capita federal arts spending, at $51 compared to the average of $122.Some,

Federal funding cheques may not come until September, and then only part

Be prepared to wait for federal funding; that's the reminder that Magazines Canada has sent to its members in its biweekly newsletter:If you are eligible for the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund, you should be aware that support to publishers will be delayed in 2011—and the delay could be quite substantial. In the 2010 "transition year" (the first year of the CPF),

Magazines BC dealing with staff turnover and CPF funding disappointments

The Magazine Association of BC is undergoing some major changes in both its staff and programming. Recently, we reported that Rhona MacInnes was leaving as executive director; her interim replacement, program coordinator, Heidi Waechtler has stepped in to cover the job, but will herself be leaving at the end of July to enter the Master of Publishing program at Simon Fraser University. The role of

Publishers urged to register and get information about OMDC Magazine Fund

Ontario magazine publishers will want to put in their daybooks and bring-forward files the September 22 application deadline for the Ontario Media Development Corporation's magazine fund. Guidelines for the program remain the same as last year and all applications must be submitted online; the earlier the better. A maximum of two project applications may be made by each applicant. 
Applicants

Phew, the funding is safe!

The gratitude and sense of relief of Canada's magazine industry is quite evident in a release today concerning the most recent federal budget which confirmed $75 million in support for the Canada Periodical Fund. Magazines Canada has been lobbying hard on behalf of the fund.“The CPF commitment in the budget will help create jobs and economic growth while contributing to the industry’s transition

Extra $15 million in CPF funding up in the air, Magazines Canada tells members

Magazines Canada is telling its members that the election call and the fact that the recent budget was never passed may mean 20% less money in the Canada Periodical Fund. The March 22 budget had contained a provision for a $15 million addition to the $60 million fund.The road ahead is not clear but there is a very good chance that, when payments to publishers are made in June or July of 2011,

Access Copyright announced $300,000 in new funding for research and professional development

Access Copyright Foundation has announced $300,000 in new funding in 2011, directed to the creation and dissemination of publishable Canadian works. It's the second year for the grants, which are being administered nationwide in partnership with the Saskatchewan Arts Board, but it holds out major opportunities in two new categories for Canadian magazine writers, in research and professional

Canada Periodical Fund aid to publishers grant applications due November 24

The Department of Canadian Heritage is reminding magazines that they have only until November 24 (that's next Wednesday) to apply for the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund. The applicants' guide is available at the DCH website.

Fuse magazine appeals to its subscribers for a $40,000 way out of a financial crisis

Fuse magazine, one of Canada's older arts and culture magazines, has been forced by a financial crisis to appeal for a bailout from its supporters in what they are calling their 40 for 40 campaign. Keying off their forthcoming 40th anniversary, they are trying to raise a total of $40,000 by March 31 of which they need to have  at least $10,000 in hand by December 1. A letter sent to subscribers

Ontario cultural mag publishers will receive first tranche of OAC "top up" funds in October

More information on the Ontario Arts Council's "top up" for eligible magazine and book publishers, courtesy of a post on Quill and Quire: The extra money is the result of an "administrative surplus" at the OAC. Publishers now receiving block grant funding in 2009–10 are eligible to receive up to 57% of their current funding over a three-year period. Details of reporting are now being worked out

Ontario not-for-profit mags eligible for new 3-year fund; for-profit mags get something, too

The government of Ontario has announced a new, three-year $27 million arts investment fund to be managed by the Ontario Arts Council (OAC). The fund, which is designed to strengthen not-for-profit arts organizations that are funded by the OAC, will be augmented by an additional $1.1 million over three years for English and French magazine and book publishers -- including for-profit companies

Canadian Heritage announces $52.7 million in Canada Periodical Fund grants

[This post has been updated] The  Aid to Publishers' grant data for the Canada Periodical Fund for the 2010-11 year have been released and are available online. A total of 484 titles received $52,669,029 in grants ranging from the largest, at $1,500,000 to the smallest, at $386. The CPF replaces the postal subsidy (Publications Assistance Program) and the Canada Magazine Fund (CMF).

(As reported

Canada Council takes management of Flying Squad in-house; ends outsourcing to Mags Canada

[This post has been updated] The Canada Council for the Arts has ended its collaboration with Magazines Canada in which it outsourced the management of the Flying Squad program for the portion of the program serving magazines. Two years ago, the program, which had previously provided mentorship and consultation assistance to theatre and dance companies, was expanded to the book and magazine

Small- and mid-sized mags have until Sept. 17 to apply for CPF Business Innovation funding

Small and mid-sized print and digital magazine publishers have until September 17 to put in their applications to be eligible for the current round (2010-11) of the Business Innovation component of the Canada Periodical Fund from the department of Canadian Heritage. Applications received later will not be considered until the 2011-12 round. The business innovation program offers support for

Small cultural mags were cut adrift because they're not businesses

It was an interesting presentation this week at the MagNet conference in Toronto by Scott Shortliffe, the director of periodical publishing and programs from the Department of Canadian Heritage. He probably gladdened the hearts of publishers large and small by saying that they were only a couple of weeks away from receiving cheques under the new Canada Periodical Fund (CPF). Almost 1,000 titles

Briarpatch fundraising campaign looks to Cuban agriculture for inspiration

Briarpatch magazine is taking a leaf from the home-grown development of Cuban agriculture following the collapse of its patron, the Soviet Union, and developing a "deeper roots" campaign to build sustainable funding. In an open letter to readers, editor Dave Oswald Mitchell says the relatively small circulation leftish magazine is looking at a funding shortfall of $30,000 in 2010/11, the result,

Waiting to see: Cuts to the arts and particularly magazines murky in BC budget

The just announced B.C. budget has cranked back previously announced (and massive) cuts to arts organizations; however, according to the BC  Association of Magazine Publishers it's not clear what that means for BC arts and literary magazines. We quote from the association newsletter.BC Finance Minister Colin Hansen unveiled the 2010 budget on March 2, amid great anticipation from the arts

Periodical Fund quietly removes requirement to print funded mags in Canada

There could be a significant impact on Canadian magazine printers from the changing rules under the Canada Periodical Fund, not least of all because the government has quietly dropped the requirement that magazines receiving government funding must be printed in Canada. According to a posting in PrintCan, Doug Bennet, the publisher of industry trade magazines Masthead and Graphic Monthly,

New rules make for winners and losers in the new Canada Periodical Fund

MastheadOnline has compiled a good and interesting rundown of the winners and losers (actual and potential) under the rules for the new Canada Periodical Fund, finally announced this week.