We are inviting submissions for the first volume of If/Then: Chance and Creativity, a quarterly publication that explores how chance influences the creative process, and the lasting impact this can leave.

This issue explores the idea of ‘Mundaneness’ – our relationships with the ordinary, and how there may be something special hidden between the cracks of our day-to-day lives.

True to our theme, we see this publication as an experiment in chance itself!

We don’t know what we’ll receive, and that unpredictability is part of the process.

‘Mundane’ is up to interpretation.

It could be an element of practice which is overlooked, or something ‘normal’ that has held your attention, or something you find special that others do not.

We are looking for both art pieces that relate to ‘the mundane’, as well as articles that delve into the topic.

On a more open basis, works that incorporate or explore chance can be sent in as well, however those that respond to the brief of ‘mundaneness’ will be prioritised.

Submissions may take the form of:

•  Photography ‘as a medium’ (single images or series).
• Images of Art (paintings, sculptures, illustrations, etc.).
• Text (short prose, essays/articles, or poetry — max. 1000 words).
• Film stills and a URL (single stills or curated sequences).
• Collaborative works
• Process-based documentation

    
If you are unsure if your work is applicable, feel free to send it anyway.

We can have a discussion to see how you can be included.

Together, these works will be gathered into a collective publication.

All accepted works will be sent a series of questions which will explore the themes of mundaneness and chance.

Submission Guidelines:

• Only work from the last 3 years will be accepted – 2023, 2024, 2025. This is in order to ensure the conversation we are having is contemporaneous.
• Number of works: Up to 4 pieces (images or texts) per applicant. Not all may be accepted, but submitting multiple works gives us a broader sense of your practice.
• Please label the work with your name and title of the piece.

Include:

• Your name and contact details.
• A short artist statement (max. 150 words).
• Year of your piece’s completion.
• Social media links if you want them included in the magazine.

Publication:

• Selected works will be published in If/Then: Chance and Creativity – Vol. 1 – The Mundane Issue
• There is no submission fee. This may change with future volumes.
• Contributors will receive a PDF of the magazine when it is released. If/Then: Chance and Creativity is a digital-first quarterly magazine exploring creative processes through the lens of chance. Future volumes may be released in print depending on interest.

Individual artists maintain full copyright over their submitted works.

By submitting, you grant If/Then: Chance and Creativity permission to reproduce your work within the magazine and related promotional materials, both digital and print, at no financial compensation.

All profits from potential magazine sales will go toward supporting future issues.

Information on the Editor:

I’m Brandon J. Barnard, an experimental filmmaker and artist based in Plymouth, UK.

I’m currently doing a PhD on ‘Chance in Filmmaking’, exploring how randomness and restrictions can spark creativity.

In my works, I use arbitrary prompts and rules to push my projects in unexpected directions. 

I’m way more interested in the process of creation than the finished piece.

I enjoy documenting my art journey through articles and diagrams, following how seemingly inconsequential moments in life often matter the most.