Organizer Information
This open call is issued by Autograph, a London-based arts organization and charity dedicated to supporting contemporary practices that explore issues of race, representation, identity, human rights, and social justice. Founded as both an archive and commissioning platform, Autograph works at the intersection of visual culture, writing, and critical discourse, with a strong focus on amplifying underrepresented voices.
The organization regularly commissions writers, artists, and researchers to respond to its exhibitions and archival material. Through public programming, exhibitions, and online publishing, Autograph positions itself as a platform for socially engaged storytelling and experimental forms of narrative practice.
Title & Description
Speaking Through the Void – Autograph Creative Writing Commission 2026
“Speaking Through the Void” is a public Publication and writing commission inviting emerging and unagented writers to develop new short-form texts in response to Autograph’s exhibition Of Walking on Fire by artist Nhu Xuan Hua.
The opportunity focuses on themes of memory, language, and migration, encouraging writers to reflect on how stories are transmitted, fragmented, or silenced across generations. The exhibition itself explores archival family photographs and the emotional distance created through displacement, where memory becomes unstable, dreamlike, and partially inaccessible.
Selected writers are invited to produce original works that creatively interpret these ideas through forms such as poetry, short fiction, or experimental narrative writing. The commission encourages diverse literary approaches that engage with the emotional and conceptual dimensions of migration, identity, and historical memory.
Successful applicants will receive editorial support and have their work published on Autograph’s digital platform. Selected writers may also be invited to perform their work at a public event titled Memory and The Musicality of Language.
Categories
- Writing
- Poetry
- Creative Writing
- Literature
- Prose
- Short Story
- Fiction
- Essay
- Interdisciplinary Arts
Eligibility
- Open to emerging writers and unagented writers
- International applicants are welcome (UK-based organization, global submissions accepted)
- No prior publication required
- Suitable for first-time and early-career writers
- Writers working in experimental or traditional literary forms
- Applicants should be able to produce original, unpublished work
Program Benefits & Awards
- £400 writing fee for commissioned piece
- Editorial guidance and development support from the Autograph team
- Publication on Autograph’s official website (Publication)
- Invitation to read at a live public event in London (optional participation)
- Inclusion in Autograph’s newsletter and social media promotion
- Professional visibility within socially engaged contemporary writing networks
Application Fee
Free to enter
Optional suggested donation: £2+ (charitable contribution)
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a pitch only (not the full text), including:
- Short proposal outlining the writing concept (300–1000 words final output range, but pitch is shorter)
- Clear indication of format (poetry, fiction, essay, or hybrid text)
- Conceptual response to themes of memory, migration, and language
- Evidence of engagement with Autograph’s exhibition context (recommended but not required)
- One idea per applicant (no multiple submissions)
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 13 July 2026
- Notification Date: 20 July 2026
- Publication Deadline (for selected writers): Mid-August 2026
Location
London, United Kingdom
Additional Details
- Commission focuses on new, unpublished writing only
- Word count for final pieces: approx. 300–1000 words (poetry may be shorter)
- Selected writers will receive editorial development support
- Images are not commissioned; only Autograph archival images may be used if relevant
- Remote participation is supported for international writers
- Live reading event participation is optional; recordings may be accepted
- Selection is based on conceptual strength and thematic relevance
- Feedback is not provided for unsuccessful applicants due to capacity limits