From ASTRID van BAALEN, poet
In March 2010 Arc Publications and the poetry imprint of a big name publisher both expressed an interest in my manuscript. After years of toil and uncertainty I found myself in the fortunate position of being able to choose a publisher. The reason I went with Arc is because it approached my manuscript from point of view of my artistic development and my artistic aspirations, not on basis of what the supposed masses might or might not be able to compute.
Arc’s contribution to contemporary poetry publishing is vital. Arc is the nesting ground of the poets of the future. Arc publishes poets that the larger market-driven publishers daren’t to. The ACE grant ensures Arc can continue to select poets on artistic grounds instead of on ‘quick flash in the pan marketability’. As a result the work Arc publishes is of the highest calibre. Arc holds the long-term artistic view, and it shouldn’t be penalised for doing so. Long-term artistic risk-taking should not be discarded as an expendable idealism. Artistic risk-taking should be rewarded with trust, support and financial backing.
Another reason I chose to go with Arc is because Arc is an internationally recognized flagship of translated poetry. Arc publishes voices that otherwise would not be heard in the English speaking world. Voices that inspire and shape the British cultural landscape: Ewa Lipska, Vladimir Mayakovski, Georg Trakl and Valerie
Rouzeau to name but just a few. It is thanks to their British translators, who have spent years honing their translation skills that we can read their work and allow it to inform us.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind the ACE that it was instated to promote and safeguard the position of the arts in contemporary society. By implementing these cuts ACE is not fulfilling this role and is turning its back on its social, cultural and political responsibility to act on the behalf and in the interest of the arts and artists. This responsibility entails making a stand. ACE should not be exempt from doing just that. The careers and voices of many poets and translators depend on it. Arc should be able to continue with its groundbreaking publishing activities.