Submit a Letter or Opinion Piece

SCENE 49 welcomes letters to the editor and opinion pieces from readers, artists, creators and people engaged with Canadian arts and culture.

You do not need to be a professional writer or industry insider. If you have something thoughtful to say about film, television, music, books, publishing, theatre, comedy, performing arts, festivals or the wider cultural landscape, we want to hear it.

Letters to the editor

Letters are best for responding to something published by SCENE 49 or to a recent development, decision, controversy or conversation in Canadian arts and culture.

As a general guide:

  • Keep it concise — ideally under 500 words.

  • Focus on one main issue.

  • Be specific about what you agree with, disagree with or think deserves more attention.

  • Criticism of organizations, companies, institutions, public figures, creative work and ideas is welcome. Personal attacks, threats, discriminatory material, defamatory claims and allegations that cannot be reasonably supported are not.

  • Include your full name and city or community.

  • Include an email address or phone number so we can verify your identity. Contact information will not be published.

Opinion pieces

Opinion pieces give you more room to make an argument, examine an issue, challenge an industry practice or write from personal or professional experience.

A strong opinion piece usually:

  • Has a clear point of view.

  • Explains why the issue matters beyond the writer.

  • Uses facts, examples or relevant personal experience to support its argument.

  • Is written in the author's own voice.

  • Is generally 600–1,200 words, although shorter or longer submissions may be considered.

We are particularly interested in perspectives that contribute something new to conversations about Canadian culture and the industries that shape it.

You do not need to be a critic, academic, publicist or established artist to have something worth contributing.

A few things to know

We may edit submissions for spelling, grammar, clarity, length and house style. If an edit would substantially change your argument or meaning, we will contact you before publication.

We may fact-check submissions and ask writers to provide sources or documentation for factual claims before publication.

Submitting something does not guarantee publication.

Please disclose any financial, professional, organizational or personal connection that is relevant to the subject of your submission. This includes employment, representation, business relationships or other interests involving a person, production, publisher, organization or company discussed in the piece.

We do not publish anonymous opinion pieces except in unusual circumstances where there is a strong public-interest reason.

Unless otherwise agreed in advance, unsolicited letters and opinion submissions are not paid.

By submitting a letter or opinion piece, you confirm that you have the right to submit the material and, if it is accepted, give SCENE 49 non-exclusive permission to edit, publish, archive and promote it across SCENE 49's website, newsletter and social media channels. Copyright remains with the copyright owner.

Letters and opinion pieces represent the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of SCENE 49 or Birchbound Media Inc.

How to submit

Send your letter or opinion piece through the SCENE 49 Contact page and identify it as a Letter to the Editor or Opinion Submission.

Include your name, city or community and a way for us to contact you.

If the submission relates to a particular SCENE 49 article, please include the article title or link.

Already published your thoughts somewhere else — including on your own website, newsletter or social media? That's fine. Let us know where the material has previously appeared when you submit it.

If you think your perspective would add something worthwhile to the conversation about Canadian arts and culture, send it our way.