As young writers and artists growing up in Barrie Ontario, we found a severe lack of local publications where we could submit and potentially showcase our work. After graduating high school and venturing off to university, we discovered that there was not just an absence of an avenue for young writers, but there were no outlets available to creatives of any age.
We believe this needs to change.
Simcoe County and Muskoka have a number of well established institutions that showcase visual arts, music, and drama. Unfortunately there are very few publications dedicated to the literary arts in our community, making it difficult for local writers to showcase their work. The Northern Appeal will be an essential avenue for writers in our area to gain exposure.
A literary journal for the Simcoe County and Muskoka area would help foster a culture that is encouraging and supportive of artists and writers. It would help turn our community into a space where artistic talent and literature can grow. Creatives may feel less pressure to move away in order to find an artistic community. We want the voices of small town Canadians to be heard.