The Rialto

The Rialto is an independent British poetry magazine and publishing imprint founded in Norwich, Norfolk, in 1984. Its principal activity is the publication of a literary magazine appearing three times each year, alongside books and pamphlets by poets. The organisation occupies a distinctive position between a periodical, a small press and a literary community: it provides a regular platform for new and established poets while also developing selected writers through shorter publications and full-length collections. The magazine was started by Michael Mackmin, John Wakeman and Jenny Roberts. Its name emerged from a conversation about progress on the publication, when a friend asked what news there was on “the Rialto”; the phrase also evokes the Rialto in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Jenny Roberts departed soon after the seventh issue, while Mackmin continued as editor and Wakeman later left to establish the poetry magazine The Shop in Cork, Ireland. The first issue appeared in April 1984. Its contributors included Margaret Atwood, George Barker, Steve Sant, Gavin Ewart, Miroslav Holub and Carol Ann Duffy, who later served as Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2019. The Rialto expanded from magazine publishing into books in 1996, beginning with a limited edition of Frank Redpath’s How it turned out. Over time, its publishing programme developed into two principal forms: poetry books and pamphlets. The pamphlet list includes work by poets such as Holly Singlehurst, Simon Maddrell, Selima Hill, Anita Pati, Sean Wai Keung, Kate Wakeling, Richard Scott, Emily Wills, Luke Samuel Yates, Hannah Lowe and Jen Campbell. The press has also published full-length collections and selected-poem projects, including Poetry with an Axe to Grind, an anthology drawn from the first 100 issues of the magazine. A related development is the Bridge Collections series, which is intended to help poets move toward a first full collection. This reflects The Rialto’s broader role in literary development: it is not simply a retail publisher, but a venue through which poets can build readership, experiment with form and progress from magazine publication to pamphlet and book publication. Its catalogue includes recipients of significant recognition; Matt Howard’s Gall, for example, won the Best First Collection category in the 2020 Laurel Prize. The magazine is supported by a network of staff, editors, guest editors, trustees and advisers. Michael Mackmin has remained a central editorial figure, while assistant and guest editors have included Will Harris, Rishi Dastidar, Edward Doegar, Degna Stone, Ella Frears and Daljit Nagra. Nick Stone has served as art director. The publication’s visual identity has incorporated work by established artists including Barbara Hepworth, Paula Rego and Eric Ravilious, as well as contributions from emerging printmakers, artists and photographers. The Rialto is part-funded by Arts Council England. In 2022 it received the Exceptional Contribution Award at the East Anglian Book Awards for outstanding work in writing and publishing in the region. The award recognised its long-running contribution to poetry and literary publishing in East Anglia. The organisation remains an independent, regionally rooted poetry institution with a national and international readership, combining recurring magazine issues with a selective programme of poetry books and pamphlets.

The Rialto began in Norwich, Norfolk, in 1984, founded by Michael Mackmin, John Wakeman and Jenny Roberts. The title arose from a friend’s question about progress on the proposed magazine and also alluded to the Rialto of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. The first issue was published in April 1984, with its initial printing financed by an anonymous private source. The launch issue established the magazine’s literary breadth, featuring Margaret Atwood, George Barker, Steve Sant, Gavin Ewart, Miroslav Holub and four poems by Carol Ann Duffy. Roberts left shortly after the seventh issue. Wakeman subsequently moved to Cork, Ireland, where he founded The Shop, another poetry magazine. Mackmin remained closely associated with The Rialto as editor and later oversaw its expansion into book publishing. The magazine continued as a recurring publication issued three times a year, developing a reputation for presenting both established poets and writers at earlier stages of their careers. The organisation entered book publishing in 1996 with a limited edition of Frank Redpath’s How it turned out. It later built a catalogue of pamphlets and full-length poetry collections. Its pamphlet programme has included work by Holly Singlehurst, Simon Maddrell, Selima Hill, Anita Pati, Sean Wai Keung, Kate Wakeling, Richard Scott, Emily Wills, Luke Samuel Yates, Janet Rogerson, Jen Campbell, Hannah Lowe, Peter Sansom, Richard Lambert and Lorraine Mariner. The full-length list has included books by Julia Casterton, Allan Crosbie, Joanna Guthrie, John Siddique, Helena Nelson, Andrew Waterhouse, Josephine Dickinson, Emily Wills, Dean Parkin and Matt Howard. The Bridge Collections series was created as an intermediate route toward a poet’s first full collection. This developmental orientation became an important part of The Rialto’s identity, alongside its magazine and book publishing. In 2020, Matt Howard’s Gall won the Best First Collection category in the Laurel Prize. In 2023, the organisation published Poetry with an Axe to Grind, a selection from the first 100 issues, giving the magazine’s long history an anthology form. The Rialto is operated through a network of staff and editors rather than a conventional large publishing-house structure. Mackmin has remained a central editor, with assistant editors and guest editors contributing to different editions. Nick Stone has acted as art director, and the organisation has trustees and an advisory board drawn from publishing and poetry professionals. Its cover art has ranged from work by major artists, including Barbara Hepworth and Paula Rego, to pieces by emerging printmakers, artists and photographers. The magazine is part-funded by Arts Council England. In 2022, The Rialto received the Exceptional Contribution Award at the East Anglian Book Awards, recognising its sustained contribution to regional writing and publishing. The publication remains an independent poetry magazine and press with roots in East Anglia and a broader readership among poets, literary magazines and poetry-book audiences.

• 2023

  Anthology of the first 100 issues

  [2]The Rialto official websitetherialto.co.uk

  Poetry with an Axe to Grind presents selected poems from the magazine’s first 100 issues.

• 2022

  Exceptional Contribution Award

  [1]The Rialto (poetry magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  The Rialto is recognised at the East Anglian Book Awards for its contribution to writing and publishing in the region.

• 2020

  Gall wins a Laurel Prize category

  [1]The Rialto (poetry magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  Matt Howard’s The Rialto collection Gall receives the Laurel Prize for Best First Collection.

• 1996

  The Rialto enters book publishing

  [1]The Rialto (poetry magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  The organisation publishes a limited edition of Frank Redpath’s How it turned out, beginning its book-publishing programme.

• 1984

  The Rialto is founded in Norwich

  [1]The Rialto (poetry magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  Michael Mackmin, John Wakeman and Jenny Roberts establish the magazine, and the first issue appears in April.

An independent, writer-focused poetry publisher and magazine that connects established literary voices with emerging poets through recurring issues, pamphlets, collections and developmental publishing.

• Literary magazine · 1984

  The Rialto poetry magazine

  The organisation’s core periodical, published three times a year. It presents contemporary poetry from established and emerging writers and has featured poets including Margaret Atwood and Carol Ann Duffy. Its covers and visual presentation also form an important part of the publication’s identity.

• Poetry publishing

  Poetry pamphlets

  A selective series of shorter poetry books, often providing an early or focused publication opportunity for individual poets. The catalogue includes works such as The Sea Turned Thick As Honey, Queerfella, Fridge, The Rainbow Faults and Unmapped, alongside titles that are now out of print.

• Poetry publishing · 1996

  Full-length poetry books

  The book list extends beyond pamphlets to full-length collections and selected-poem volumes. It includes How it turned out, The Prize, The Swan Machine, Gall and Poetry with an Axe to Grind, representing the press’s role in bringing individual poets and the magazine’s archive to book audiences.

• Poetry development

  Bridge Collections

  A developmental pamphlet format intended to help poets progress toward a first full collection. The series reflects The Rialto’s emphasis on literary cultivation and provides a publishing step between individual magazine appearances and a book-length debut.

• 2023

  Publication of Poetry with an Axe to GrindProduct launch

  Background

  The magazine reached a point at which its first 100 issues could be represented through a retrospective selection.

  Action taken

  The Rialto published an anthology of selected poems from those issues, edited by Michael Mackmin.

  Aftermath

  The anthology consolidated and presented the magazine’s historical contribution as a standalone poetry volume.

  Source

• 1996

  Expansion from magazine publishing into booksStrategy

  Background

  After more than a decade as a poetry magazine, The Rialto broadened its publishing activity.

  Action taken

  It issued a limited edition of Frank Redpath’s How it turned out and subsequently developed pamphlet and full-length poetry programmes.

  Aftermath

  The expansion established The Rialto as both a periodical and an independent poetry publisher.

  Source

• 2023

  The Rialto publishes Poetry with an Axe to Grind[2]The Rialto official websitetherialto.co.uk

  Product launch

  The publisher issued an anthology of selected poems drawn from the magazine’s first 100 issues.

• 2022

  The Rialto receives East Anglian Book Awards recognition[1]The Rialto (poetry magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Rialto received the Exceptional Contribution Award for its work in writing and publishing in the East Anglian region.

1. 1The Rialto (poetry magazine)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Rialto official websitetherialto.co.uk