OPEN CALL

We’re living in a time of immense upheaval and churning. Everything, it seems, is up for debate. All the things we once thought of as certain, secure and normal are being questioned, tested. It is in this time that the real work of transformation can happen. When the ideas that make up who we are become stale and no longer serve us it is time to start anew. In this volume of The Collection we are asking how do we manifest the world we want to see? How do we make the future present? Author, documentarian and activist Toni Cade Bambara said “the role of the artist is to make revolution irresistible.” In a way, artists are future seers, affording us a glimpse into what’s possible; making visible, tangible a world that’s yet to come. What once was an idea, a hunch, an inkling the artist brings to life and once we experience it, we have in our bodies a memory of it. It is very powerful to have in our bodies a memory of a future that’s yet to come. We invite you to submit your visions of the future.

We look forward to seeing your art!


Peace and Love,

The OPEN DOORS Design Team,

By Participating in The Collection you get:

  1. A chance to be included in the next volume of The Collection.

  2. A chance to receive the Poets’ Choice Award of $100. (one per category)

  3. A chance to be highlighted as a featured artist on The Collection. 

  4. A chance to be promoted on our social media platforms.

  5. Potential to perform or showcase your work in The Collection’s Vol. 3 Launch.

Eligibility: 

All forms of art are welcomed. Poetry, long prose, visual art, video & music. The Collection is committed to disability justice and as such will give special consideration to gun violence survivors, people with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities. Allies and folks in relationship with the disability community are also welcomed to apply. Applicants are welcomed to submit multiple submissions in multiple categories

HOW TO Submit

To submit simply click the button below, which will redirect you to the submittable platform.

If, for any reason at all, the platform presents barriers in submission your work, please reach out to us directly at info@thecollectionnyc.org, and we can work out a way to receive your submission.