Water Bodies 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 Water Bodies, 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 nature and ecology. It publishes creative work exploring botany, conservation, wildlife, landscapes and people’s relationships with the more-than-human world.

The journal aims to provide an inclusive platform for creatives while encouraging deeper engagement with the natural environment.

About Water Bodies

Water Bodies is an upcoming online component of River Margin dedicated to rivers, lakes, oceans, wetlands and other aquatic environments.

For this segment, River Margin is accepting:

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

Selected submissions will be featured in the upcoming online segment.

Eligibility Criteria

Submissions are accepted from anywhere in the world.
There is no entry or submission fee.
Both emerging and established creatives may submit.
All writing must be in English.
Applicants may submit in multiple categories, provided they follow the requirements for each.
The guidelines do not state an age restriction or professional-experience requirement.

Theme

The theme of the open call is:

Water Bodies

Submissions should engage meaningfully with bodies of water, including:

Rivers
Streams
Lakes
Oceans and seas
Wetlands
Ponds
Estuaries
Springs
Other aquatic environments

Work must relate directly to water bodies or the wider natural world. Unrelated submissions will not be considered.

Submission Categories

Photography

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

Writing

Accepted forms include:

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 water bodies or the natural world.

Visual Art

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

Sound Art and Music

Submit up to three sound-art or music files.
Files must be in MP3 format.
Files may be attached to the email or shared through Google Drive.

Film

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

Submission Rules

Do not exceed the submission limit for the relevant category.
Entries that do not follow the category-specific guidelines will not be reviewed.
Use “Water Bodies Submission” as the email subject.
Email attachments and Google Drive links are accepted.
Do not use WeTransfer because the links may expire before the submission is reviewed.
Ensure that Google Drive links have the correct viewing permissions.
Do not email River Margin asking for a receipt or confirmation.
Do not send follow-up messages asking about the submission’s status.
Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.

Optional Information

Applicants are encouraged to include:

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 published in the Water Bodies online segment of River Margin.

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

Selection and Notification

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

Successful contributors will receive an acceptance message within two months of submitting. Applicants who do not hear from the journal within that period should understand that their work has not been selected.

How to Submit?

Email the submission to:

Email: contact@rivermargin.com

Use the following subject line:

Water Bodies Submission

Applicants may attach their files directly or include an accessible Google Drive link. Film submissions may also be shared through a streaming-platform link.

Submission Deadline

The deadline for Water Bodies submissions is September 27, 2026.

River Margin’s general submission page separately lists November 1, 2026, for its main journal. However, the dedicated Water Bodies page gives September 27 as the project-specific deadline. Applicants to this open call should follow the earlier date.

No closing time or time zone has been stated. International applicants should submit their work in advance.