The Work of Art

Submission Guidelines

Please read these guidelines before submitting. They're here to help us give every submission a fair and thorough review.

Issue 3 is open — Theme: Roots. Submissions close October 15, 2026. Free to submit. No fees, ever.  Submit your work →

At a Glance

Submission fee None — free always
Pieces per applicant Up to 5 pieces per issue
Accepted mediums All mediums — visual art, writing, and everything in between
Resolution (visual art) 300 DPI preferred, not required
AI-generated work Not accepted
Honorarium (Issue 2+) $500 pool shared among accepted contributors
Issue 3 deadline October 15, 2026

What We Accept

We welcome all mediums. If you make it — we want to see it. Past issues have included poetry, fiction, essays, creative nonfiction, painting, drawing, illustration, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, wearable art and digital art. We don't limit by medium.

Visual Art

Painting, drawing, illustration, printmaking, digital art, collage, photography, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, and related forms.

Written Work

Poetry in any style, personal essay, creative nonfiction, and short prose. Submit each poem as a separate file where possible.

Submission Limits

  • Up to 5 pieces total per applicant per issue.
  • You may submit any combination of visual art and written work within that limit.
  • If submitting multiple files, give each a clear title and descriptive file name.

File Specifications

Visual Art Files

  • Format: JPG or PNG preferred
  • Resolution: 300 DPI preferred (not required)
  • Color: RGB is fine
  • Submit clean, final images — no watermarks if possible

Written Work Files

  • Format: PDF or DOC/DOCX preferred
  • Length: Generally up to 2 pages per poem
  • Use a readable font and include the title in the document
  • If your work has intentional formatting, note that in your submission

What to Include

  • Your name and email address
  • Title for each piece
  • For visual art: medium, and optional dimensions/year
  • Optional: short creator statement (50–75 words)
  • Optional: pronouns, location, website or social link

Originality & AI Policy

We accept original work only. Submissions must be created by the submitting artist or writer.

We do not accept AI-generated artwork or writing — work created wholly or primarily using generative AI tools. Light editing tools (e.g. Photoshop adjustments, spell check) are fine. If you're unsure, reach out.

Rights & Permissions

  • You keep full copyright to your work.
  • If your work is selected, you give Bee the Change Foundation non-exclusive permission to publish it in The Work of Art: in the free digital edition on our website, in the print edition, and in the ebook. Print and ebook copies are sold through booksellers and online retailers, and that money goes back into the program, covering printing and paying contributors.
  • We may share your work, with credit, to promote the issue and the program.
  • Non-exclusive means you’re free to publish, sell or share your work anywhere else, at any time.
  • We won’t sell or license your work on its own to anyone else.
  • If you’re under 18, a parent or guardian needs to agree to these terms too.

Selection & Notification

  • Selections are based on theme alignment, impact, clarity of craft, and originality of voice.
  • We aim to notify all submitters by the date listed on the current issue's call page.
  • If selected, you may be asked for a higher-resolution file, a short bio, and/or a brief creator statement.

Ready to submit?

Issue 3 — theme: Roots — is open now. Deadline October 15, 2026. Free to submit, no fees ever.

Submit Your Work

Questions? Email WorkOfArt@beethechangefoundation.com — Bee the Change Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.