From DR. SIMON JENNER (Editor-in-Chief), DR. NAOMI FOYLE (Marketing Director and Associate Editor) and JOHN O’DONOGHUE (Associate Editor), Waterloo Press
We are writing in support of the sterling work of Arc Publications. It is with great sorrow and a sense of shock that we heard Arc's ACE funding has been withdrawn. In its publication of poets from all over the UK, as well as its rightly lauded poetry in translation titles, Arc has set a gold standard for quality and range, a standard we hugely respect.
We personally own many Arc titles, some copies that Simon Jenner reviewed for the TLS, others including books by Brighton-based poets Jackie Wills and Lorna Thorpe; a marvellously witty collection by the Irish poet Tony Curtis; Donald Gardner's translations of Remco Campart; and Landbridge, an anthology of contemporary Australian verse.
We are also looking forward to Will Stone's translations of Belgian poetry. That a small press has produced such a vibrant and cosmopolitan list is entirely down to the excellent taste and dedication of the editors, who have long since proved their worth to British literature, and should surely be entitled to count on ACE for support.
We do realize this is part of a national picture; that Enitharmon, Flambard, Shearsman and Salt have also failed to secure Portfolio status. The greatest shock is the loss of the PBS. We understand the criteria of access ACE has applied to its decisions; that pro-active attempts to access and mentoring have clearly informed the overall decision-making. There have been winners too. We gladly acknowledge the efficacy in that, but must profoundly question the loss of such flagships.
The knock-on effect of these losses will be huge. Many nationally-reputed poets will lose the mainspring of promotion and credibility. Whilst mentoring, development and process are vital, the developed poet and voice is at least equally so. Poets throughout their careers need publication. Remaining presses like ours cannot bear the weight of four or five. If there are issues for this small clutch of presses to address, they should be encouraged to re-position some priorities, not extinguish internationally acclaimed lists of poets. Waterloo cannot imagine the UK literary landscape without our sister presses. Nurturing poetry has always been at the heart of ACE thinking. We urge ACE to reconsider its decision and, for a comparatively tiny outlay, continue to invest in British poetry presses.