Arc Poetry Magazine Information

Arc was started in 1978 by then-Carleton University Professors Christopher Levenson, Michael Gnarowski and Tom Henighan. Arc became an independent not-forprofit organization unaffiliated with Carleton University after only a few issues. Christopher Levenson remained the editor until 1988. Arc has published works by significant Canadian poets such as Carol Shields, Don Domanski, Steven Heighton, Di Brandt, Erin Mouré, Diana Brebner, George Elliott Clarke, Robin Skelton, Roo Borson, and Bronwen Wallace. Arc's mission is to nurture and promote composition and appreciation of poetry in Canada and abroad, with particular but not exclusive emphasis on poetry written by Canadians. In addition to publishing and distributing the work of poets, Arc Poetry Magazine organizes and administers awards, contests, public readings and other events. The title refers to Michael Gnarowski's idea of "a poetry magazine that would counteract the burgeoning chauvinism, and be open to contributions from all quarters, a magazine that would not espouse Canadian nationalism as such, but would extend an 'arc' to encompass Canadian contributions, while by no means shutting the door on any writer because of his or her background, origins, political or aesthetic affiliations."