The Skinny Current Issue

The headline for this on the pageplan is ‘wtf is happening editorial’. I am here to tell you wtf is happening. 

It’s been a wild few weeks here at The Skinny. As Jamie says in his reflective lead feature, reports of our demise were not in fact greatly exaggerated. At the beginning of September we were forced to announce our closure, following a significant drop in income that we, a small business entirely reliant on ad revenue and, crucially, not Creative Scotland funding, were unable to weather. 

The support we received from the public was incredible. At the point of announcement we were all frankly too devastated to consider what the reaction might be, and hearing from so many friends, peers, collaborators past and present helped all of us feel that even amongst the current heartbreak, what we have produced has been meaningful. This magazine is truly a labour of love for all involved, and it has been for now 21 years. Many generations of writers, editors, designers, photographers, illustrators have seen their work on these pages. Generations of staff members have worked tirelessly to produce a magazine each and every month. We are so deeply grateful for all the support.

Many reached out to ask what they could offer materially, and that was again so appreciated. It was particularly impactful to see so many people talking about the importance of independent cultural journalism, of how that connects readers to the creative scenes around them, raises awareness, discourse, attendance. We believe in this, passionately, and hope to be able to continue delivering that for our readers here in Scotland long into the future. 

Which leads us on to the wtf are we here part – enter Outer Spaces, who stepped in shortly after our public announcement with the wholly unexpected offer of a takeover. Thanks to them we are able to return, continue, stabilise, and hopefully, in the long term, touch wood, thrive. We’re grateful and excited to be entering this next chapter with an organisation whose aims and values align so closely with our own, committed to supporting artists and the broader creative community right here in the place that we live. They’re celebrating their fifth birthday this month – the traditional fifth anniversary gift is wood, and what is The Skinny if not reformed pulped wood. Welcome to the (belated) October issue.

- Rosamund West