By Bill Marx

Please take this opportunity to sustain the future of the arts in this country by strengthening a magazine that is making a real difference.

First off, I want to thank those who have supported the Arts Fuse. Without your help the magazine would not be approaching its 16th year, a rare milestone for an independent online publication dedicated to coverage of the arts.

It was banner year for traffic on the Arts Fuse. We reached over a million readers in 2021 and we are maintaining that momentum in 2022, proof that, while arts coverage continues to be cut in many publications, there is an appetite for the magazine’s in-depth writing on underappreciated artists, books, films, and organizations, incisive commentaries on cultural issues, and critiques of TV, visual art, music, theater, and dance performances. We have posted more than 1,000 articles since last December. Standout reviews over the past few months have included looks at a biography of Mary Hemingway and a concert headlined by King Crimson and the Zappa Band.

At this point, the Arts Fuse has proved it plays an invaluable role in helping arts and culture thrive. Independent arts criticism, commentary, and features articulate art’s value to society through advocacy, news, and debate. Arts writers — veterans as well as newbies — are finding fewer opportunities to contribute to sites that pay for their work. Opportunities for critics to receive professional editing are becoming rarer and rarer. We are facing a strange paradox: as we work our way out of the pandemic, more and more art is available. But there are fewer credible journalistic sites that encourage criticism, dialogue, and debate. Artists and organizations, large and small, tell me that we have become an indispensable part of the cultural ecosystem.

But maintaining this level of excellence demands resources. It takes approximately $250 to create a Short Fuse podcast. The Arts Fuse burns through around $800 a week. If all goes according to schedule, the magazine soon will have a refreshed look that will make it easier to locate articles of interest and to interact with our critics.Also, with additional funds we will be able to revive our successful mentorship program, where high school students are instructed in the craft of arts criticism by Arts Fuse writers.

For a contribution of over $100, you can wear your love of arts coverage proudly!

Your past support has taken us to our current heights.

We need your tax-deductible help to sustain the Arts Fuse’s level of commitment to quality journalism. As the end of the year is upon us, please consider contributing to the magazine so that we can build on our success.

Any gifts of $500 and above will become part of our major giving program called “The Infusers.” These donors receive advance access to reviews and the opportunity to attend an event with a critic (when it is safe to do so). All donations are tax-deductible and can be made by choosing one of the options below. Please take this opportunity to sustain the future of the arts in this country by strengthening a magazine that is making a real difference.

With deep appreciation,

Bill Marx
Editor-in-chief, The Arts Fuse