Bringing the Writer Home: Consistency and Community in The New Quarterly's Past and Future

The New Quarterly has remained a successful small-circulation literary periodical through thirty-four years of operations. This report focuses on four benchmarks in The New Quarterly’s history: its inception in 1981, its incorporation as The New Quarterly Literary Society in 2003, its succession plan to hire a new editor and acquire charitable status in 2012, and the inauguration of the Wild Writers Literary Festival, the magazine’s largest brand extension and annual fundraising event. Through the magazine’s consistent mandate, its excellent editorial reputation, and its dedicated community presence, The New Quarterly has become a destination literary magazine in Canada. By continuing these best practices and adapting them to the digital age, The New Quarterly can evolve into a successful content producer. This project report is intended to benefit members of the Canadian magazine publishing industry, and will be of interest to those concerned about the sustainability of charitable arts organizations in Canada.