Tendrils: Trauma and the Government Open Call

Tendrils, a trauma-focused art & literary journal, seeks visual art and short-form literature for our upcoming “Trauma and the Government" issue. This edition will explore the profound theme of trauma and the government—how policy, laws, and programs have rippled through communities, neighborhoods, and lives.

The work can reflect historical or contemporary themes related to local, national, or global policies, laws, etc. They’re interested in thoughtful, bold, and distinctive voices that contribute fresh and meaningful perspectives to this topic. They invite artists and writers to submit work that offers a unique perspective, whether abstract, realistic, or something else entirely.

The work submitted can reflect governments from around the world, but we ONLY publish US-based (incl. territories) artists and writers. Each selected artist and writer will be paid a $20 honorarium.

Fee: There is no fee for submission.

About Tendrils:
Tendrils journal creates a space for artists and writers creating from lived experience where each work transforms the often unexplainable into something new and beautiful. They believe creative practice is a vehicle for profound positive transformation and that healing from trauma is a collective journey, rooted in community, empathy, and creativity.

Tendrils, Trauma and the Government, will be available in print. A condensed online version will be accessible for free once the print edition is produced.

Requirements

Selection Criteria:
- Address the theme of trauma and the government
- Submitter must be 18 years old or older
- Submitter must live in the US and/or its territories
- Up to 2 submissions allowed.
- Only original, human-created artworks will be considered.

Application Instructions

• Artworks can be of any medium or size (if video or performance, please submit BOTH a still image AND a link to view the video)
• Statement about how the work addresses the theme (between 100 and approximately 300 words)
• For art submissions: upload jpg (jpeg) files that are 300dpi. The longest side should be no greater than 3500 pixels. Each file must be saved as “FirstnameLastname_Title”
• For literature submissions: upload pdf files. Each file must be saved as “FirstnameLastname_Title”
• Literature must be short-form (poetry, essay, short story, etc.) max. 1000 words, OR an excerpt from a long-form text. (max. 1000 words)