Organizer Information

ŠUM is a biannual journal dedicated to art and theory-fiction, publishing both print and online editions free of charge. Founded to explore the intersections of contemporary art, philosophy, and critical theory, ŠUM provides a platform for innovative writing, visual art, and interdisciplinary experimentation. The journal emphasizes the analysis of contemporary culture through experimental approaches, including the study of conspiracy, occultism, geopolitics, and memetic technologies. ŠUM collaborates with both emerging and established writers, researchers, and artists primarily based in Europe and the UK, engaging them through curated open calls, commissioned essays, and artistic presentations. The editorial team for ŠUM #26 & #27 consists of Maks Valenčič, Miroslav Griško, and Ema Ograjenšek, who review applications and select contributors in alignment with the thematic focus of these issues.

Title & Description

ŠUM #26 & #27 Open Call 2026 – Cultures, Conspiracies, and Contemporary Epistemologies This open call invites writers, researchers, art critics, and emerging artists to contribute to ŠUM #26 & #27, exploring the role of the cult as a lens for understanding contemporary culture. Participants will investigate how minimal collectives and extreme ideas shape worldviews and influence social, political, and aesthetic realities. Contributions should engage with themes such as conspiracy, occultism, memetic technologies, and epistemological shifts, while exploring the production, transmission, and normalization of belief systems. Selected contributors will work in dialogue with ŠUM’s editorial framework, producing texts or visual projects that illuminate the memetic power of ideas, the formation of cultural norms, and the intersection of art, philosophy, and society. The call is open to multidisciplinary approaches, including academic essays, theory-fiction, literary texts, visual documentation, and art projects accompanied by commissioned texts. This opportunity encourages experimentation, theoretical rigor, and creative engagement with contemporary issues of cultural perception.

Categories

  • Writing – essays, literary research, theory-fiction
  • Art – emerging artists in any medium
  • Research – philosophy, media studies, sociology, theology, contemporary art
  • Interdisciplinary Arts – hybrid approaches combining visual, textual, and theoretical methods
  • Art Critic – commissioned critiques or analyses accompanying visual projects

Eligibility

  • Writers, researchers, and art critics based in Europe and the UK
  • Emerging artists in any medium, based in Europe or UK
  • Proficiency in English required; some submissions may be accepted in Slovene for writers
  • Open to both emerging and early-career contributors
  • Participants should engage thematically with ŠUM’s call, focusing on contemporary cultural, aesthetic, or epistemological inquiry

Program Benefits & Awards

  • Monetary fee of €300 per contribution (writers and artists)
  • Two printed copies of the ŠUM issue featuring the contribution
  • Visibility through ŠUM’s online and social media channels
  • Institutional distribution via ŠUM’s network
  • Opportunity to present work at future ŠUM events or projects
  • For visual artists, the inclusion of a commissioned essay written in dialogue with their work

Application Fee

None

Application Requirements

  • Completed application form (.doc) downloadable from ŠUM’s website
  • For writers/researchers: abstract or full text (up to 20,000 characters with flexibility for longer texts), covering academic, literary, or theory-fiction formats
  • For artists: proposed work/project including title, year, technical details, artist statement/project description, and visual documentation (.pdf, under 25MB total)
  • For art writers/critics: application form plus text aligned with the theme of the open call

How to Apply?

Submit applications by email to: info@sum.si Writers/Researchers: Subject: “Šum #26 Open Call for Writers” Artists: Subject: “Šum #27 Open Call for Artists” Art Writers/Critics: Subject: “Šum #27 Open Call for Writers”

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: 21 February 2026
  • Open Call Results: 1 March 2026
  • First Draft Due (writers/critics): 1 April 2026; Final Draft: 30 April 2026
  • First Draft Due (critics): 1 June 2026; Final Draft: 30 June 2026

Location

Online / Europe & UK

Additional Details

  • ŠUM emphasizes engagement with contemporary cultural phenomena, including conspiracy, occultism, and memetic transmission
  • Submissions are reviewed by the editorial team and selected contributors will receive editorial guidance
  • The journal encourages interdisciplinary dialogue between writers, researchers, critics, and visual artists
  • Contributors gain professional exposure through institutional distribution and public visibility

Website Link: https://www.sum.si/projects/sum-26-27-open-call-for-writers-and-artists