More government funding has allowed the Canadian Magazine Publishers Association to expand its four-year old travelling consultant program.

Heather Beaumont, co-ordinator of the scheme, says funding is up 300% this year, putting $100,000 at its disposal.

Beaumont says the cmpa is matching consultants to publications now, with experts from bigger, more established magazines taking their skills on the road to smaller publications from this winter until late spring.

Beaumont says funds come from Ontario’s Ministry of Culture and Communications, the federal government’s Cultural Industries Development Fund and the Canada Council.

According to Jeff Shearer, president of the cmpa, the increased funding comes at a crucial time for the magazine industry.

Beaumont says the program is particularly helpful to smaller publications that do not have the money or resources to travel to larger centres for cmpa seminars.

Some of the titles already requesting expert help on one of circulation and promotion, design, production, editorial management and advertising or financial management are Ontario History Magazine, Prairie Journal, Public Sector Management, Parachute and New Maritimes.

Three travelling consultants already confirmed are Charles Oberdorf, editor of City and Country Home, Jim Sutherland, associate editor, and Paul Roelofs, art director, of Western Living magazine.

Beaumont says about 90 publications will be given expert advice.

Last year about 30 Canada Council-funded publications received consultations from the Toronto-based, 300-member CMPA.