Plant Life Open Call 2026 by River Margin for Artists, Writers and Photographers [Global; Free]: Submit by Sep 27

River Margin is inviting worldwide submissions of photography, writing, visual art, sound art, music and film for Plant Life, an upcoming online component of its journal. Participation is free, and selected work will be published online. Submit by September 27, 2026.

About River Margin

River Margin is an independent, volunteer-run journal focused on the natural world. It publishes creative work connected with ecology, botany, conservation, wildlife, landscapes and people’s relationships with more-than-human life.

The journal aims to provide an inclusive platform for artists and writers while encouraging greater attention to the environment.

About Plant Life

Plant Life is an upcoming online component of River Margin dedicated to plants.

The project aims to challenge “plant awareness disparity”—the tendency to overlook plants—and draw greater attention to the role of plant life within the wider natural world.

River Margin is seeking:

Photography
Poetry and other writing
Visual art
Sound art and music
Film

Submitted work must engage directly with plants and the natural world.

Eligibility Criteria

Submissions are accepted from anywhere in the world.
Both emerging and established creatives may submit.
There is no entry or submission fee.
All written submissions must be in English.
Applicants may submit to more than one category but must follow the separate requirements for each.
No age restriction or professional-experience requirement is stated.

Theme

The central theme is:

Plant Life

Submissions should focus meaningfully on plants and their relationship with ecology, people, places or other forms of life.

Work that does not directly relate to plants or the natural world will not be considered.

Submission Categories

Photography

Submit up to seven photographs.
Digital and film photography are accepted.
Files may be sent as email attachments or through Google Drive.

Writing

River Margin accepts:

Poetry
Creative non-fiction
Short fiction
Essays
Reviews
Hybrid writing

The complete writing submission must:

Contain no more than 10,000 words.
Be combined into a single document.
Be submitted in DOC or PDF format.
Be written in English.
Relate directly to plants or the natural world.

Visual Art

Submit up to seven images.
Accepted mediums include painting, drawing, sculpture and other traditional art forms.
Digital artwork is not accepted.
AI-generated artwork is not accepted.
Images may be sent as email attachments or through Google Drive.

Sound Art and Music

Submit up to three sound or music files.
Files must be in MP3 format.
Files may be submitted through Google Drive or as email attachments.

Film

Submit up to three films.
Applicants may share links to films hosted on a streaming platform such as YouTube.
Video files may alternatively be sent through Google Drive or as email attachments.

Submission Rules

Do not exceed the stated submission limit for the relevant category.
Submissions that do not follow the category requirements will not be reviewed.
Do not use WeTransfer because its links may expire before the editors can access the files.
Google Drive links and email attachments are accepted.
Ensure that shared Google Drive files have the correct viewing permissions.
Use the email subject line “Plant Life Submission”.
Do not send submissions through social-media direct messages.
Do not email River Margin requesting confirmation that the submission was received.
Do not send follow-up emails asking about the application’s status.

Applicants may submit work in multiple categories, provided they follow the requirements for every category.

Optional Information

Applicants are encouraged to include the following in the body of their email:

A short biography written in the third person.
A link to their website, portfolio or social-media profile.

These details are helpful but not compulsory.

Publication, Payment and Rights

Selected work will be featured in the Plant Life online segment of River Margin.

This is an unpaid publication opportunity.
River Margin does not charge contributors a submission fee.
Creators retain all rights to their work.
River Margin states that work will not be used without the creator’s knowledge or consent.
Published work will be attributed to its creator.

Selection and Notification

River Margin reviews every eligible submission but contacts only successful applicants.

If selected, applicants should receive an acceptance message within two months of submitting. Those who do not receive a response within that period should assume that their work was not selected.

How to Submit?

Applicants must email their submissions to:

Email: contact@rivermargin.com

Use the following subject line:

Plant Life Submission

Files may be attached directly to the email or shared through an accessible Google Drive link. Film submissions may also include links to streaming platforms such as YouTube.

Submission Deadline

The deadline for Plant Life submissions is September 27, 2026.

River Margin’s general submission page lists a different deadline for its main journal. However, the dedicated Plant Life project page specifically states September 27, 2026; applicants to this project should follow the earlier, project-specific deadline.

No closing time or time zone has been specified. International applicants should submit in advance.