From TONY CURTIS, poet (Ireland)
I write this e-mail to lend my support to Arc Publications, who, as its logo states, has been “40 years at the cutting edge of poetry publishing”. An internationally renowned small Press such as this should be supported and not destroyed. I am truly appalled at the Arts Council’s decision to cut all funding to Arc while other arts organisations have been bestowed 100% increase in funding. Where is the sense and what is is the logic behind this action? Last year’s 10% cut was almost understandable in this time of recession and belt tightening. But this year’s decision is outrageous. In the land of Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Larkin, Hughes, Armitage and Carol Ann Duffy poetry is held up as the highest of art forms, and thus, something to be immensely proud of. Arc currently has over two hundred and fifty poetry titles on their book list, and a host of new work coming down the line.
Their grant is a small one (£36,000) but is crucial to them, and what’s more, it is money well spent. Arc Press have their feet grounded in the past and their eyes firmly on the future. In fact, Arc is in every sense a 21st Century Publishing House that needs Arts Council funding now – it is no good to them, or us, when they are gone.
I beg the Arts Council to reconsider their action and overturn the dreadful decision to cut Arc’s grant entirely, and in so doing, bring this esteemed Press to its knees.