City Arts Magazine Grows and Consolidates

Beginning this October, City Arts magazine will consolidate its three editions into one free monthly publication. The consolidated magazine will blend coverage of the Eastside, Tacoma and Seattle to create an increasingly robust monthly magazine dedicated to the entire metro area.

"The decision to consolidate reflects growing demand for the magazine as well as our desire to create broader exposure for the regional arts community," says City Arts president and publisher Paul Heppner. "Cultural consumers have interests that expand beyond their zip code. A region-wide magazine is the best way for us to meet the needs and expectations of our readers and advertisers."

As a result of the consolidation, the magazine will increase significantly in page count, making it possible to expand its monthly coverage of individual arts disciplines as well as lifestyle arts such as food and style. Monthly circulation will increase by more than 3,000 in Seattle while retaining strategic distribution of 14,000 magazines in the Eastside and Tacoma markets. The new region-wide edition will maintain City Arts glossy format and high production values and the magazine will be available for free at more than 1,000 locations throughout the Puget Sound.

"A larger single edition makes City Arts a more valuable platform for local arts and culture," says editor in chief Leah Baltus. "Now we'll be able to share stories from Tacoma and the Eastside with a much broader audience and encourage an exchange of ideas among the artists throughout the region--all while creating a more dynamic magazine experience for our readers."

Since its launch five years ago, City Arts has experienced increasing success in the marketplace. In 2008, the magazine grew from bi-monthly to monthly in Seattle, Tacoma and on the Eastside. In 2009, it merged with Sound magazine, strengthening its coverage of music in the Northwest. In 2010, it launched the City Arts Fest, a three-day music and arts festival. The second annual City Arts Fest will be held Oct. 20-22, featuring more than 50 events in 20-plus Seattle venues and attracting an attendance of more than 23,000 people.

City Arts is published by Encore Media Group, a family-owned, Northwest-based publishing company that has been producing arts programs, travel guides and custom projects for more than 40 years.