Aesthetica

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This article is about an arts magazine. For the philosophical concept, see Aesthetics.

Aesthetica arts and culture magazine engages with contemporary art, contextualising it within the larger cultural framework. Founded in 2002, Aesthetica Magazine is one of Britain's leading art publications and covers literature, visual arts, music, film and theatre.

Exploring the varied nature of the arts and recognising the dynamics of contemporary culture, Aesthetica [1] pushes the boundaries and evokes debate around today's most important topics. Bringing a fresh perspective to the national forum, Aesthetica is at the forefront of contemporary arts by critically engaging with visual art, film, music, literature and theatre.

Aesthetica [2]currently has a readership of 60,000 and is distributed both nationally and internationally, and is available throughout the UK and in the following countries: USA, Canada, France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Copies of Aesthetica magazine can be bought at WH Smiths, independent newsagents and galleries, or online at www.aestheticamagazine.com. Aesthetica can also be ordered at your local library.

Aesthetica is published six times per year with issues being released 1 February, 1 April, 1 June, 1 August, 1 October and 1 December.

Cherie Federico, managing editor of Aesthetica is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

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Aesthetica Competitions

Aesthetica Annual Creative Works Competition

The Aesthetica Annual Creative Works Competition champions new talent in the genres of visual arts, photography, poetry and fiction.

The [competition] is separate from Aesthetica Magazine[3], however the annual event is organised by the founders of Aesthetica Magazine.

Details of the Annual Competition:

• The competition will accept entries of creative writing (poetry & fiction) as well as artwork and photography.

• Each section will have one winner that will receive a prize of £500 and a subscription to Aesthetica Magazine

• The new Aesthetica Annual will be a book that will present winning entries and runners-up in the genres of artwork, poetry and fiction.

• Entry allows the submission of either five images of artwork, two short stories (up to 2000 words each), or five poems (up to 40 lines each).

• The entry fee for the Aesthetica Annual Creative Works Competition is £10.

• Deadline for entries is 31 August 2010.

For further information please go to the submission guide section at the Aesthetica website.

Aesthetica Short Film Competition[4]

Aesthetica [5]is looking for filmmakers who are driving the genre of short film forward through inspirational and innovative works. Whether you are fresh out of film school or have been making films for years, we want to hear from you. Accepting films in all genres: drama, documentary, music video, animation, satire, comedy, artists' film, etc.

See below for our great prize package.

Winner:' £500' first prize. Screenings of your film at: The National Media Museum (Bradford), Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival (London), Glasgow Film Festival, Kerry Film Festival and on the Aesthetica website. 12 months membership with Shooting People. A collection of film books from Wallflower Press. Inclusion on a DVD that will go to all Aesthetica readers (growing readership of 60,000[6].)

Runner-up & Finalists: £250 for the runner-up. The runner-up and finalists will be included on a DVD that will go to all Aesthetica readers (growing readership of 60,000[7].)

Eligibility

The competition is open to anyone in the world. Please inform us if your work has been screened elsewhere. An entry/administration fee of £15 is required per film. You may submit more than once.

The deadline for submissions is 30 April 2010. All winners will be notified by 31 May 2010 and the DVD will be released 1 August 2010.

For submission guidelines please go to: http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/film_submissions.htm

Interested filmmakers can also keep up-to-date with the competition through the Aesthetica Short Film Competition Facebook group.

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History

Aesthetica Magazine was founded in 2002 by Managing Director and Editor Cherie Federico[8] and Production Director Dale Donley. The first issue of Aesthetica was created whilst Cherie and Dale were MA students studying at York St John: A College of the University of Leeds (now York St John University). The first issue was published in March 2003 and after contacting stockists in the UK the magazine was made available across York and Leeds.

In 2005 Cherie and Dale began working on the magazine full-time, securing an office unit in York. As the magazine began to gain recognition readership grew to 10,000, then 25,000 to 45,000 and currently has a growing following of 60,000[9].

Aesthetica Magazine differentiates itself from other arts magazines through its interdisciplinary approach to the creative arts, covering visual arts, literature, music and film in a single issue[10]. Aesthetica provides up-to-date content on arts and cultural events, liaising with several major agencies, PR companies, galleries and production companies to provide the readers with the most current information from the arts world.

As the magazine’s popularity grew it attracted critical acclaim, with Cherie being awarded The Press Young Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2006 and becoming a fellow of The Royal Society of Arts in 2008.

Until 2009 the publication was sold largely in the UK and Ireland with some international subscriptions, and currently has 1,920 UK stockists. As of 2010 the magazine is stocked for sale in an extra 15 countries worldwide including: the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and mainland Europe.

Aesthetica magazine employs five permanent staff at their newest office at the Eco-Business Centre in Clifton Moor, plus freelance writers and a team of interns.

External links

• Aesthetica Magazine • Aesthetica Blog • Aesthetica Short Film Competition Facebook Group • Aesthetica Facebook Fan Page • Aesthetica on Twitter • Aesthetica on Myspace • Aesthetica Annual Creative Works Competition Facebook Fan Page