Organizer Information
This open call is part of the Un-monument | Re-monument | De-monument initiative, a multi-year public art and civic memory program led by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture (Boston) in collaboration with artists, cultural practitioners, and community groups across the city of Boston.
As part of this initiative, Boston Art Review serves as the editorial partner, responsible for commissioning and publishing written works that critically engage with themes of public memory, monumentality, and civic identity. The program itself responds to growing international discourse around the politics of monuments and the urgent need to rethink how cities narrate their histories in public space.
Un-monument operates as a long-term civic and cultural framework rather than a single exhibition. It activates neighborhoods across Boston through temporary installations, public programming, and community-led storytelling formats. Its core objective is to expand who gets to define public memory and how that memory is materially and symbolically represented in the urban environment.
Title & Description
Un-monument | Re-monument | De-monument – Call for Submissions (Written & Community Voices Program)
This open call invites writers, artists, researchers, poets, journalists, storytellers, and community members to contribute to an evolving public discourse on monuments, memory, place-making, and civic identity in Boston.
The program seeks both long-form and short-form contributions that critically and creatively respond to the concept of monuments—not only as physical objects in public space, but as evolving social, cultural, and political constructs. Contributors are encouraged to interrogate how collective memory is formed, who is represented in public histories, and how urban space can be reimagined through alternative narratives of commemoration.
Boston Art Review is commissioning two parallel strands of work:
- Pitch-Based Editorial Commissions
Submissions for developed written or visual-textual works that may take journalistic, critical, poetic, or experimental forms. These pieces will be published as part of an ongoing editorial series documenting the Un-monument initiative. - Community Voices Micro-Responses
Short-form responses (150 words or fewer) that engage guided prompts related to local landmarks, memory, public art, civic participation, and the future of commemoration. These contributions prioritize accessibility and inclusivity, welcoming voices regardless of prior publication experience.
Together, these strands aim to generate a layered, polyphonic archive of perspectives that reflect Boston’s diverse cultural landscape and evolving civic imagination.
Categories
- Writing (Critical, Essay, Journalism)
- Poetry
- Creative Nonfiction
- Research / Academic Writing
- Community Storytelling
- Visual + Text-Based Experimental Work
- Public Art Writing / Curatorial Texts
- Cultural Commentary
Eligibility
- Open internationally, with a focus on contributors engaging with Boston-related themes
- Writers, artists, researchers, poets, journalists, and community members of all levels
- No formal publishing experience required for Community Voices submissions
- Open to all ages (no explicit age restriction stated)
- Strong emphasis on inclusivity of local community voices, including underrepresented perspectives
- Both emerging and established practitioners are encouraged to apply
Program Benefits & Awards
- Editorial commissioning and publication through Boston Art Review
- Inclusion in a high-visibility civic and cultural initiative supported by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture (Boston)
- Platforming within a city-wide discourse on monuments and public memory
- Editorial collaboration and potential development support for selected pitches
- Broad public dissemination through digital editorial channels and program-related documentation
This is primarily a publication and commissioning opportunity rather than a monetary grant or residency program.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Two submission pathways exist:
1. Pitch Submissions (Long-form / Commissioned Work)
- Written pitch outlining proposed article, essay, or creative work
- Optional writing samples or portfolio links
- Author bio / short professional statement
- Conceptual alignment with themes of memory, monumentality, or civic space
2. Community Voices (Short-form Responses)
- Response of 150 words or less
- No CV or portfolio required
- Open prompt-based submission (e.g., landmarks, memory, public art, civic life)
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 6 July 2026
Location
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Additional Details
- The program emphasizes experimental, reflective, and interdisciplinary approaches to civic storytelling
- Contributions may engage with themes such as power, belonging, historical representation, and spatial justice
- The initiative functions as both an editorial platform and a civic discourse project
- Submissions may be edited in collaboration with editorial staff prior to publication
- Accessibility and openness are central: informal, poetic, and non-traditional formats are welcomed