Arts & Culture Magazines & Literary Journals in Alberta
Alberta’s active arts community is reflected in many different publications throughout the province.
Literature is the most common theme for arts-focused magazines.
While Alberta Views covers many topics, it showcases intellectually-charged literature in the form of anything from features to vignettes. The magazine publishes a minimum of three long (i.e., 3,000+ word) feature stories every issue as well as original short fiction and essays. The magazine also runs a short story competition. Alberta Views won the National Magazine Award for Canada’s Magazine of the Year in 2009 as well as the Western Magazine Awards for Magazine of the Year in 2010. Its first issue was published in January 1998. It publishes 20,000 copies 10 times a year.
dandelion is Alberta’s oldest literary magazine (first published in 1975) and publishes poetry and visual artwork that reflect aspects of local, national and international culture. The magazine is published twice annually and supports both new and established writers and is particularly interested in concrete, hybrid, and collaborative work. Recent issues have featured Erin Moure, Caroline Bergvall, Sina Queyras, Nicole orssard, derek beaulieu, Jesse Patrick Ferguson, Jessica Hiemstra-van der Horst, Christine Stewart, Lisa Robertson, and Sandy Pool and Blair Prentice.
filling Station is a volunteer-driven magazine that is published three times a year and provides a fresh contrast to traditional literary publications. It aims to generate dialogue between Canadian writers while bringing their work to the public eye. filling Station is a 100% volunteer-run, and is a registered non-profit organization with the Province of Alberta (the filling Station Publications Society). The Society is run as a Collective. There are usually about 25 people behind the scenes on the filling Station Collective bringing you the magazine and Calgary literary events.
FreeFall publishes a variety of literature from poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, visual arts, literary reviews, as well as author interviews. Freefall was founded in 1990 and published by the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society until 2008. Their website features podcasts and vidoes of authors reading and presenting their work. Their stated mission is to encourage the voices of new, emerging, and experienced Canadian writers and provide a platform for their quality work. Although they accept work from all over the world, they maintain a commitment to 85% Canadian content.The magazine is published twice annually and runs an annual poetry contest.
On Spec is dedicated to the fantastic – the name it’s given the genre of science fiction and fantasy. The quarterly journal ‘On Spec’ adheres to a strong mandate to discover and showcase quality works by predominantly Canadian writers and artists, in the genre of “Fantastic” literature. The magazine/journal encourages the growth of emerging writers in this genre, by offering support and direction through constructive criticism, education, mentoring, and manuscript development. It publishes as many new writers as possible, alongside works by established writers, and support these writings with innovative cover art for every thought and emotion-provoking issue!
The Prairie Journal of Canadian Literature is published twice annually since 1983 and presents an outlook on Canadian literature grown directly from the land. It accepts a diverse range of submissions that include poetry, drama and profiles and mandates that authors hold the copyright for their work.
WestWord is a bi-monthly publication for members of the Writers Guild of Alberta (WGA). The WGA was formed in 1980 to ” inspire, connect, support, encourage and promote writers and writing, to safeguard the freedom to write and to read, and to advocate for the well-being of writers.” Their members write in every genre and at every level of expertise. The WGA helps give Alberta writers a sense of unity and community, and is the largest provincial writers’ organization in Canada. The magazine profiles writers and publishes industry news, as well as information on events and contests for writers. A one year’s subscription is included with each $70 membership. If you’re a writer and like meeting and working with other writers, a membership is recommended.
Galleries West is a regionally-focused visual arts magazine that runs profiles on artists, as well as exhibition reviews and information on more than 400 art galleries in the region. It is published three times a year out of Calgary and its target readership is artists, collectors and dealers. Their website includes listings of artists featured in the magazine, a database of art galleries in Alberta (it lists 136 in Calgary and 71 in Edmonton — perhaps because they publish out of Calgary?) and current and upcoming art event listings. Albertans can draw inspiration for the visual arts from their own backyard – a landscape that effortlessly acts as a creative muse.
Notebook showcases the work of artists and writers in the Edmonton area. Launched as a quarterly magazine, it was first published in January 2007 and recently migrated solely online. Featured content includes illustration, photography and sculpture in a unique format with no articles or commentary. Its mission was to “create a gallery space in a magazine format.” The lusciously produced magazine ceased publishing in print in September 2010 citing too high printing costs. Since then, they have published a few things online. You can purchase any of their twelve issues online on their website.
Other Voices is published twice annually and is a magazine with strong feminine roots. It displays visual art, as well as poetry and non-fiction. Its content depicts sexual, cultural and regional perspectives and acts as a podium for marginalized groups. They evaluate manuscripts from authors for a small fee. They invite submissions from new and emerging writers and artists. Other Voices is “committed to helping underrepresented voices find the space to be heard.”
Three magazines give readers insight into Alberta’s music scene.
Penguin Eggs is Canada’s only magazine with a focus on folk, roots and world music from national and international singers and musicians. It publishes news, features, reviews and album charts on a quarterly basis. Published out of Edmonton by Roddy Campbell, it covers anything from American zydeco to Zimbabwean a cappella. Both obscure and renowned national and international musicians, singers and organ grinders are featured.
Lyrics that tend to be more on the social and political end of the spectrum rather than introverted, it’s-all-about-me naval-gazing are preferred.
Signature Magazine is the official publication of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, part of the Francis Winspear Centre for Music. It is published eight times a year (from September to June), edited by D T Baker, former music writer for the Edmonton Journal and is filled with profiles on musicians and orchestra news. You can find digital editions of their current and past issues on their website.
Calgary’s BeatRoute magazine is a monthly arts and entertainment paper with a predominant focus on music – local, independent or otherwise in Western Canada. The paper started in June 2004 and continues to provide a healthy dose of perversity while exercising rock ‘n’ roll ethics. Currently BeatRoute is distributed in Calgary, Edmonton, Banff and Canmore.
Alberta’s theatre community receives support from Theatre Alberta – a Provincial Arts Service Organization for students, educators and professionals.
All Stages is Theatre Alberta’s flagship publication and features news and opinions on topics such as arts education, auditions, directors and audiences. The magazine is published three times a year and invites submissions, letters and ideas about feature the theatre community in Alberta.
The arts represent something more to Albertans than simply a topic of study or a pastime – the arts are a lifestyle for many individuals.
Alternative Trends is published three times a year and is an Edmonton-centric lifestyle magazine with a focus on the arts. The magazine features something for every kind of reader and always has a lead on the latest trends. It seems likely that the magazine has ceased publication. The last issue referenced on their website is the Fall/Winter 2010 issue. Nevertheless, back issues are beautiful, digitized and available for viewing on their website.
Georgie is a lifestyle magazine that publishes provocative interviews and edgy photography on a quarterly basis. It gives readers – many of whom are leaders in the arts and fashion world – a delicious mix of art, culture, fashion and music news. Georgie is not one single individual, but a creative community. Georgie reaches its audience through magazine in print, online and through events. Readers are between the ages of 15 and 40 with good taste, who are interested in fashion, art & design. They are opinion formers and define brand credibility. More than usual our readers are style leaders and followers of the arts industry.
Several newspapers in Alberta’s largest cities also provide a voice for the province’s metropolitan arts scene on a weekly basis.
Edmonton’s Vue Weekly was founded in 1995 and showcases an indepth perspective on what’s newsworthy in the cultural scene in Edmonton. In January 2011 Vue, formerly published independently, was purchased by Bob Doull, a BC publisher who then purchased its fiercest competitor, See Magazine (also launched the same year as Vue). Doull has sinced merged the two publications into one in order to keep their loyal readers updated on all arts and entertainment events. You can read more about the merger at gigcity.ca and at mediamag.ca.
Calgary’s Fast Forward Weekly, which was also founded in the 1995, has a trendy style and informs readers about everything they won’t see in mainstream media. Regular departments include Urban Living, News & Views, music, art, films, movies, bars and restaurants. It’s latest issue features an insightful article on the last Harry Potter movie fans are still lining up to see in the film features department.Their website is even more interesting than their printed version although their font size could be a little larger for readers outside their under 40 demographic.
Swerve Magazine, published as a supplement to the Calgary Herald, strives to be relevant, resonant and relentlessly local since November 2004. Swerve is available every Friday in the Calgary Herald. With a circulation of 110,000 it’s the city’s most read magazine. It has received over 100 national, regional and international award nominations, winning 53 awards. In its first year of publication, it was named Best New Magazine and Magazine of the Year at the Western Magazine Awards. SwerveCalgary.com launched on Dec. 10, 2010 and invites readers to join them in the next evolution of Swerve, as they continue to stretch the definition of what a connected city can be.
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