testimonials

From Michelle Jacques

For nearly 40 years, Fuse has provided a space for important critical discourse on art, media and politics.

I’ve been involved with Fuse for more than ten years – as a board member, a writer and a contributing editor. Fuse has provided me with an opportunity to explore issues that are important to me and to participate in a community of individuals that are committed to art, ideas and the social good.

In 2010, small magazines like Fuse received a 100% funding cut from Heritage Canada. For a publication operating on a not-for-profit model, this is a hard – even impossible – hit to bare. But if Fuse and magazines like it were to give up in the face of this challenge, where would alternative voices be heard? Where would we celebrate culture and the producers who dare to question the status quo? How would we create the discourse and debate that is so necessary to inspiring change for the better?

Fuse has decided to turn this current crisis into an opportunity. An opportunity to expand our reach and strengthen our voice by diversifying and amplifying the community of writers, readers and thinkers who engage with Fuse. A first step to this end is to increase the amount of free online content.

As such, you will find the content of the fall 2010 issue on-line. Peruse the features, columns and reviews. Think about showing your support by making a small but meaningful donation of $5 – less than the newsstand price for a single issue. And even if you can’t make a donation, if you read something that engages you, leave us a comment. A financial contribution will mean a lot to Fuse. Knowing that you’re out there and that you support the magazine will mean even more.

Sincerely,

Michelle Jacques

Hello world!

Dear Friends,

For nearly 40 years, Fuse Magazine has been a diverse community of visual and performing artists, educators, community workers, writers, activists, organizers, policy makers, social thinkers, curators and many others. And yet this essential and unique cultural voice is at a CROSSROADS.

Fuse has run into a financial crisis that we can’t solve by shaving back our budgets or recruiting volunteers. Anyone who works in the cultural sector knows how increasingly vulnerable we have all become. Along with the closure of public swimming pools, libraries and youth centres, the defunding of essential cultural organizations and alternative publications regardless of their value to the community is the result of a political climate shifting further away from the social good.

The not-for-profit magazine community is declining as the commercial publishing model continues to dominate. Magazines operating outside of the mainstream industry, like Fuse, were further challenged this year by a 100% funding cut from Heritage Canada. The hit was both unexpected and impossible to fiscally absorb, and is being felt across small magazine publishing.

In 2011, Fuse will celebrate our 40th anniversary. In order to address our financial crisis we are launching our 40 For 40 campaign. Our goal is to raise $10,000 by December 1st and an additional $30,000 by March 31st to keep the doors of the magazine open. With your help we will be successful in raising this $40,000 for 40 years of publishing one of the foremost publications on Canadian and international art, culture and politics.

Fuse remains committed to providing a space for diverse voices from the cultural community. We bring to you critical arts discourse presenting work that ranges in issues from migrant and indigenous struggles, poverty, youth issues, gentrification, multiculturalism to creating sustainable cities and participatory models for democracy, as told through the lens of art. The voices in our pages provide an essential analysis of the intersections of art, culture and politics.

What can your donation do?

$50 dollars can fund a Pinky Show cartoon
$100 dollars will fund a review
$250 dollars will fund an artist project
$500 dollars will fund a feature story
$1,000 dollars can fund a public program

Your contribution will be fundamental to our ability to establish a new, sustainable model for our organization, and to make sure Fuse remains a leader in innovating the role of critical discourse in Canada. Please give what you can and help us shape the publication revolution!!

We invite you to visit our new website at www.fusemagazine.org for more information, and to donate.

Sincerely,
Fuse Magazine’s Board of Directors Franco Boni, Denise Macharacek, Srimoyee Mitra, June Pak, Jessica Shepherd and Izida Zorde, Editor