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Send a Letter to the Premier

Tell Premier Stelmach which Alberta magazines you love and why. Please personalize this letter and fill in your mailing information, and hit send. Let him know why it matters to support Alberta's creative community.

Dear Premier Stelmach,

I'm writing today about why Alberta magazines are important. They tell stories that are relevant to me as an Albertan. They also tell stories about Alberta that might otherwise not get told at all. They keep me informed and connected to my community, and also tell others beyond our borders about our great Alberta stories.

Alberta magazines contribute not only to the creative community, but to the social and cultural fabric of Alberta. Alberta's magazine industry also performs as a growing and vital component of Alberta's creative economy. The annual contribution made by Alberta magazines to the GDP (mainly of Alberta) is $106.8 million.

Despite the growing numbers of Alberta magazines, only six percent qualify for provincial funding. The Magazine Publishers Operating Grant limits access based on magazine content, yet no other cultural industry is restricted in this manner. Both Ontario and Manitoba governments do not restrict magazine funding to "cultural" titles alone, but recognize that allowing more magazines access to funding is a cultural industry development initiative that strengthens the entire industry. Currently, only 12 Alberta magazines receive support even though all legitimate Alberta magazines contribute to Alberta's cultural landscape.

As noted in the Spirit of Alberta, Alberta's Cultural Policy, Albertans hold a broad definition of culture. The guiding principles of the policy are quality of life, partnership and collaboration, diversity, a valued cultural and creative community, education and lifelong learning, stewardship and sustainability, economic development and access. Alberta magazines embody all of these principles. Therefore, it seems reasonable that the funding to magazines should not be limited by a narrow definition of culture, but should instead be expanded to provide increased support to more publishers so they may continue to produce what are truly the most easily accessible cultural mediums.

I hope that you and your fellow elected officials will continue to fund and potentially increase your support to Alberta magazines. It's clear that this investment is a wise one.

Sincerely,

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