Open Call for Submissions

Voices of Palestine:
A Celebration of Culture.

In collaboration with the Arab Foundations Forum

Submit today

Submission window

Open until December 31, 2025

Collaborating organisations

An International Human Rights Art Movement Press “Rapid Response” publication.

About this
anthology.

The International Human Rights Art Movement and the Arab Foundations Forum issue a call for Palestinian writers and artists for Voices of Palestine: A Celebration of Culture, a print anthology of Palestinian culture and experience up to and including the recent military campaign in Gaza.

Submit your work today

What are we seeking to publish:

We look forward to publishing firsthand accounts of lived-experiences and factual, sensitive retellings of Palestinian life. We encourage submissions from all Palestinians, those living in the Holy Land, and those in the diaspora. We want to hear what you have to say!

We desire to uplift, to make known and to introduce the fertile Palestinian culture and difficult experience of this stateless, multi-religious, Arab people to a wider, international audience. Palestinians, after all, have been not only Muslim, but Christian and Jewish as well. Though certainly not part of the generally accepted narrative, Jesus was a Palestinian Jew—as were many, many others. This is part of reclaiming the true history and narrative from the fog of propaganda and realpolitik that has overwhelmed it since the founding of Israel, and even before.

Submit your work today

Submission Guidelines:

Language of Writing

All written work must be submitted in English or Arabic; however, submissions originally written in other languages are welcome if they accompany an English translation.

Poetry, Essays, Short-stories:

Writers may submit 1 essay or short-story up to 2500 words, and/or up to 3 poems for consideration.

Visual art:

Artists may submit up to 5 pieces of visual art in .jpeg, .jpg, or .png form. Please submit all artwork in the highest quality format possible (zip files and WeTransfer files are encouraged for large file sizes).

Submission Values:

Pieces will be judged for quality, as decided on by the IHRAM Publishes team, as well as adherence to our signature principles of beauty as a fundamental creative value; sincerity and vulnerability of presentation; opening doorways of engagement, and celebrating the diversity of the Palestinian experience at home and around the world.

Include the following in your submission email:

  • Subject line: “Submission: Voices of Palestine”

  • Your full name and/or pen name.

  • Your state/country of residence.

  • A brief third-person bio (roughly 100 words). If your bio includes references of your past work, feel free to provide links!

  • A brief foreword to your piece (between 300-500 words), explaining your inspiration for creating it, background information, explanation of key characters, and any other key insight for the reader.

    *If your piece is accepted, we will request a high-resolution author photograph. However, authors are not required to provide photographs of themselves and are always welcome to decline, should they wish to remain anonymous.

Payment:

WRITERS will receive $100 upon publication, including all accepted pieces (one $100 payment for accepted writer).

ARTISTS will receive $50 upon publication, including all accepted artworks (one $50 payment per accepted artist).

Submit your work to: hello@humanrightsartmovement.org

Submit your work today

About IHRAM

The International Human Rights Art Festival has been featured in the New York Times, Fox Five Morning Show, NBC Live!, NY Observer, Crain’s NY Business, Metro-NY, AM-NY, Gay City News, Brooklyn Rail, and many others; we have been banned by the Catholic Church, lionized by politicians and government workers and have presented more than 1000 artists from 103 countries in our half-decade of existence!

What they’re saying about us

  • A meeting place for arts, human rights and the government. This is a new kind of coming together.

    — Dr Sarah Sayeed, Senior Advisor in the NYC Community Affairs Unit, specializing in Muslim outreach

  • “IHRAF is one of the only festivals of its kind. The world urgently needs artists who are creating work about human rights - especially at this point in our divisive times.”

    — Christina Evans, Performance Artist, California

  • “The reaction of enthusiasm from the audience showed us that IHRAF was more than just a festival to perform at - it was a platform for artistic exchange on how to use the arts to challenge the world.  Love the work IHRAF does!”

    — Shilpa Darivemula, Aseemkala Initiative

  • "I have so much gratitude to be welcomed under the diverse & inclusive umbrella that is IHRAF.  It is a gift to receive support from an organization that truly understands the role of art and it's intimate connection to activism, as a vital component to the sustainability and positive growth of our world."

    — Mara Rosenbloom, pianist, improviser, composer, educator

  • "This is truly a festival for everyone and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to perform at the IHRAF. Tom is a real thought leader who has a clear vision of the role of the arts in the current world. The festival was also a great place to connect with other passionate artists and become inspired."

    — Sora Baek, Playwright/Performer

  • "Of many festivals in NYC, this one aligned perfectly with my own values and the values that are inherent in my show. A great organization, very accommodating and supportive of the performer. They had a real plan for marketing that assured a good house. Start to finish, I couldn't have been more pleased with my IHRAF experience."

    — Mark Lanham, Playwright/Performer

  • "In my view, IHRAF is one of the most powerful movements of the 21st century, and it is here to stay.  IHRAF has revolutionized human rights through the use of arts."

    — Wole Adedoyin, Director, IHRAM African Secretariat

  • "The International Human Rights Art Festival is doing an amazing work by empowering creative writers and providing them with the tools, resources and support they need to create lasting change. By fostering a community of artists and activists united in their pursuit of social justice, IHRAF has established itself as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change, harnessing the transformative power of art to make the world a better place."

    — Stanley Umezulike, Nigeria

  • "The International Human Rights Art Festival is the platform of possibilities and eternal optimism. It is IHRAF founder Tom Block’s brave vision that gives these new, emerging and established writers and artists an opportunity to stand up for what they believe in through their art and writing. His initiatives and projects encourage, invite and spur change to happen. Without doubt, thanks to Tom Block’s unwavering support for human rights and the arts."

    — Kelly Kaur, Singapore/Canada