Funding confirmed for The Rialto Poetry magazine
Norfolk-based poetry magazine The Rialto has received confirmation that it had been successful in its application to Arts Council England for funding through the National Lottery programme, ‘Grants for the Arts’. The Rialto has been offered £90,000 over three years, enabling it to undertake a number of new initiatives designed to strengthen the organization and secure its future sustainability.
The Rialto magazine is one of the UK’s longest established and most respected contemporary poetry magazines, with Simon Armitage, Carol Ann Duffy, Sir Andrew Motion and Jo Shapcott all advocates.
Michael Mackmin is widely recognized as one of the English-speaking world’s leading poetry editors. The grant will support a unique “Editor Development Programme” in which four aspiring editors will work alongside him to learn this vital role. Michael Mackmin said;
“It’s brilliant to get this endorsement of what we do from Arts Council England. Every year poetry magazines go out of business and over the years, ACE’s support has been vital in helping The Rialto to survive and continue its work, finding and bringing to readers the best poetry being written today.”
Helen Mitchell, The Rialto’s Development and Special Projects Director said;
“Michael Mackmin reads some 12,000 poems a year to find 180 to publish in The Rialto. With the explosion in self and online publishing, it’s more important than ever for there to be good editors sifting through, finding and promoting the best poetry. To our knowledge this is the only programme looking to invest in the editors of the future. ”
The Rialto will also be establishing an advisory board to support its work, exploring e-publishing and developing a groundbreaking partnership working with Writers’ Centre Norwich. Chief Executive, Chris Gribble said;
“There isn’t a lot of money in poetry so organisations and magazines often struggle to survive. We’re confident that both Writers’ Centre Norwich and The Rialto will benefit from the new form of collaboration we are planning. ”
Helen Lax, Regional Director, Arts Council England said:
‘Since its inception in 1984, The Rialto has upheld its reputation for artistic excellence producing a well-respected national poetry magazine with a loyal and wide-ranging readership.
‘This Grants for the Arts award will help to move the magazine into a new era, enabling both organisational and artistic development. It will support the team to pioneer new digital approaches to increasing engagement with poets and readers, helping more people to experience high-quality writing.’
The Rialto costs £7.50 for a single issue or £19 for a year’s subscription and is available from www.therialto.co.uk or from The Bookhive on London Street in Norwich.
Image: Agapanthus, Angie Lewin.
