Changes made by the Harper government that affect which magazines qualify for arts funding have left some longstanding arts publications anxious about their future.

The existing Canada Magazine Fund will be changed to the Canada Periodical Fund, expanding the potential for funding to non-magazine publications like small rural newspapers, without a subsequent funding increase.

This makes it difficult for small circulation magazines like local literary magazine Prairie Fire – which caters to a niche readership – to get funding unless they increase their circulation. Magazines with a circulation under 5,000 may no longer be eligible.

“It’s terrible. It affects all literary and arts magazines,” said Andris Taskans, editor-in-cheif of Prairie Fire. Taskans has been with the magazine for 30 years.

“ What is happening is part of the Harper government’s anti-arts philosophy.

Andris Taskans, editor-in-chief of Prairie Fire

Taskans said the rules are being rewritten and an ideological shift is occurring.

If the changes go through, it could end up costing Paririe Fire $20,000. Other magazines may not survive at all.

One such magazine is The Malahat Review. It’s been published in British Columbia since 1967, where provincial arts funding has been cut by $20 million. Taskans said that B.C.‘S arts funding is now somewhere around $2 million.

“What is happening is part of the Harper government’s anti-arts philosophy,” said Taskans. “The [Publication Assistance Program] used to provide subsidies for postage to small publications. This was something that was offered since our Confederation and now that is being cut back.”

“We haven’t been affected so much on a provincial level [in terms of funding]”, said Heidi Harms, also an editor at Prairie Fire. “We are more concerned with how the federal winds are blowing.”

“Prairie Fire caters to small market,” said Taskans, “but its role is more important than circulation numbers. It’s how promising writers get their start. I came across a story that was written by a 16-year-old Margaret Atwood in a similar publication from years and years ago. This is a slap in the face to all of us in the field.”

Published in Volume 64, Number 12 of The Uniter (November 19, 2009)