Government funding for the arts has been cut drastically, at the same time CALYX journals and books are winning awards. Meanwhile, CALYX's total income dropped 18 percent between 1994 and 1995, and CALYX's grant support dropped 88 percent.

In 1998, feminist publishers and booksellers are feeling under siege. The rise of superstores has forced many independents out of business. The costs of production increase even as sales decrease. As a result, the CALYX women, and the workers at other surviving feminist presses, are working harder to survive.

The CALYX collective remains committed to their mission, which is to discover and publish emerging writers and artists, and to keep books in print so they are available to others for a long period of time. Margarita Donnelly, Director/Editor of CALYX, states that few publishers keep books in print these days, because this is an expensive commitment. CALYX editors have always been flexible, cutting costs, foregoing wages, putting on creative fundraising campaigns. Their plan is to more actively market their books and journal to the academic market, while continuing to market books to the bookstore industry.

Some costs in 1996 illustrate why the CALYX commitment is so expensive: printing and publication costs for one book of poetry averages $5,000. One book of prose or one journal issue costs $10,000. To develop and print academic mailers, to purchase mailing lists, and send two mailings costs $3,500. $4,500 pays for the printing and mailing of CALYX catalogs and flyers to 10,000 individuals. $900 will send a CALYX representative to the National Women's Studies Association conference. $1,200 will send a CALYX representative to the Associated Writing Program's conference.