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Letter from the publisher
A letter to the a-n community from a-n’s Publisher and Director of Programmes Susan Jones.
In these grinding economic times, we feel it's more important than ever to keep you, the a-n community, well-informed.
With now over 16,000 subscribers and countless more reading the issues of a-n Magazine from art galleries and shops, we're all too well aware how a-n - in print and online - continues to play a vital role in the critical and professional environment for visual artists and arts professionals. As a non-profit company, with a mission that sets artists and their collaborative processes at the core, we're committed to providing affordable professional products and services.
a-n is fortunate to receive revenue funding from Arts Council England of around 22% of the total turnover. Or in other words, every £1 from ACE is matched by £3 of earned income, that comes from advertising, subscription and retail sales. This public grant subsidises a-n subscription costs by £14, making our prices affordable.
Like all funded arts organisations in Arts Council England's portfolio, our funding agreement ceases on 31 March 2011. Following the Government's directive, a 25% cut in the Arts Council's overall budget is anticipated, phased in over four-years. All funded organisations have been asked to budget for 10% less grant in 2011/12, with no certainty of subsidy or at what level for subsequent years. We'll be telling you more about how this will impact on you as ACE's plans unfold. We also know that cuts in local authorities and university budgets will have an impact on what's on offer to artists and reduce the level of much-needed paid work across for the sector.
Our aim is to use our public subsidy and the income that comes from artists and the art world wisely. So we'll be looking to shave expenditure without reducing quality. Clearly, some information is better carried online where it can be very easily and cheaply updated, such as with the Jobs and opps listings. We're strengthening our partnerships - with Artquest and DACS and the many regional organisations who support AIRTIME events - to provide you with additional direct benefits and greater opportunity for exchange and development amongst our communities.
Whilst the country crawls slowly out of economic decline, we're already conducting surveys and taking soundings on what you think our priorities should be in serving your needs.
We welcome your ideas to info@a-n.co.uk at any time.
With good wishes
Susan Jones
Publisher and Director of Programmes
a-n The Artists Information Company
You can read more about a-n's values, mission, structure, governance and budgets by going to www.a-n.co.uk/about_a-n
Susan Jones
Director of Programmes, a-n The Artists Information Company
First published: a-n Magazine September 2010
© the artist(s), writer(s), photographer(s) and a-n The Artists Information Company
All rights reserved.
Artists who are current subscribers to a-n may download or print this text for the limited purpose of use in their business or professional practice as artists.
Parts of this text may be reproduced either in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 (updated) or with written permission of the publishers.
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