Newsletter Submissions
Spirituality in Black Artistry:
BIPOCRYPHA Magazine is an online literary and arts publication dedicated to the exploration and celebration of the rich tapestry of spiritual beliefs and practices within the African diaspora.
BIPOCRYPHA is now on Substack as BIPOCRYPHA Bulletin, a newsletter where we invite your contributions alongside our annual themed literary magazine, as we pursue our vision to challenge the Western Canon, enrich the Black Canon, and expand the Biblical Canon by highlighting new perspectives and aesthetics rooted in the experiences of African American religious traditions. The newsletter surrounds the theme of spirituality in Black artistry, which is deeply intertwined with themes of freedom, identity, and resistance.
We are seeking visual artwork, personal essays, and short fiction created by Black artists/writers that engage with the above motifs. Key aspects of spirituality in Black artistry also include:
Themes of freedom and resistance
Cultural and religious synthesis
Focus on community and the self
Personal and relational faith
Spirituality’s influence on modern writing
Modern African American literature, though it’s typically narrated as being secular, is in fact fundamentally religious. - Josef Sorett
How to Submit:
Please send all solicited and unsolicited submissions to BIPOCRYPHA@gmail.com. Accepted formats include short essays, short fiction, photography, design, paintings, and digital artwork, etc. Newsletter submissions are selected on a rolling basis.
All submissions should include the following information:
In the subject line: BIPOCRYPHA Bulletin Submission- Essay/ Fiction/ or Art
In the email body:
Your name.
Title of submission(s).
For personal essays, 1 essay, 500-1500 words (6 pages max).
For short fiction, 1 piece, 500-1500 words (6 pages max).
For art, 3 images max.
An artist’s statement of up to 150 words, addressing the theme(s) of the submitted pieces.
Bio of up to 150 words.
If you have any, please include a link to your artist’s web-page or social media handles.
Attached:
For Prose: Submit 1 personal essay OR 1 piece of short fiction inside a single .doc, .docx, or .pdf file (up to 6 pages total), using Times New Roman. Prose should be 500-1500 words.
For Art: Please attach 3 representative images of topically, graphically, or thematically related art in one of the following formats: .gif, .jpg, .png, and .tif. If you have one, please include a link to your artist’s webpage or online gallery in your bio.
If you have any questions, email us at BIPOCRYPHA@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram @BIPOCRYPHA. To share with Black faith-based artists you know who are interested in having their work published, please link them to this submission page.
At this time, all newsletter submissions are gratuitous, and we thank you deeply for your voluntary efforts as we endeavor to create a more rewarding framework, recognizing the importance of compensating Black creators.