“Line Break” / Prize:
Issue 01
Submission Window: 11.24.25 – 01.31.26*
Subtext is an independent publication by Base 36, created to support new writing and contemporary cultural work across forms and disciplines.
Based in Brooklyn and operating internationally, Subtext focuses on clear, thoughtful expression shaped by a range of artistic and cultural practices. We present work that reflects the conditions of the present moment without relying on spectacle or trend, offering a space for considered perspectives and original ideas.
Subtext publishes essays, writing, visual contributions, and experimental approaches that engage with contemporary culture in direct and meaningful ways.
The “Line Break” / Prize
As our first open call, the Line Break Prize signals a new chapter in our publishing journey in alignment with Base 36’s Par.x program—an invitation for writers and visual artists to share their most honest and intentional expressions. Along with the prize, selected works will be published in the inaugural edition of Subtext, where they will live among other voices in conversation with the world and its shifting present.
This theme asks: What does it mean to create from inside the “afterwards”? We’re looking for work that captures the profound weight of persistence. When the great turning points have passed and even our gestures of rebellion feel rehearsed, how do we find form, image, or language for the simple, absurd act of continuing?
We’re less interested in recovery and more in the quiet, insistent ways life endures. Send us work that documents this residue: the weight of memory in the body, the persistence of a feeling long after its cause is gone, the way a past event stains the present moment.
We seek pieces that act as precise, human-scale traces of what it feels like to be alive now.
Editorial Theme for Issue 01: “Life in Residue”
Prize Categories:
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The Line Break Prize is dedicated to writers who redefine the possibilities of language—those unafraid to move between forms, question conventions, and write with both precision and feeling.
It aims to connect emerging and established voices in a shared commitment to creative integrity. Selected works will appear in Subtext’s forthcoming issue, forming a curated exhibition of writing that reflects its time while daring to move beyond it.
Through the Line Break Prize, we hope to offer not just recognition but conversation—a space for writers to share work rooted in honesty, depth, and the quiet courage to say something true.
Main Prize:
Up to 3 writers selected across categories
Each writer receives $2,000 USD
Winning works published in both the print and digital editions of Subtext
Each contributor recognized as an official Line Break Prize Recipient
The Line Break Prize represents more than an award—it’s a gesture of belief in the writer’s voice. Each selected work forms the cornerstone of the issue, highlighting writing that pushes form, voice, and thought into new terrain.
Online Publication Awards:
Up to 5 writers selected
Each writer receives $100–$500 USD, depending on length and placement
Works published exclusively through Subtext’s online platform
These pieces extend the conversation beyond print, showcasing a broader spectrum of emerging and experimental voices shaping the literary moment.
Categories & Lengths
Poetry: Up to 3 poems (no more than 6 pages total)
Fiction: Up to 3,000 words
Creative Nonfiction / Essay: Up to 2,500 words
Experimental / Hybrid Forms: Up to 2,000 words, or a combination of text and visual material (PDF or DOCX format preferred)
Critical essays, art writing, and cultural theory belong to other sections of the magazine and will not be considered under this prize.
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The Line Break Prize recognizes artists whose perspectives feel sharply of this moment—pertinent, unflinching, and deeply attuned to the world around them. Whether emerging or established, this prize honors creatives who work with intent, experiment with form and medium, and bring a distinct and uncompromising point of view.
Selected works will appear in Subtext’s forthcoming issue, forming a curated exhibition of visual arts that reflect its time while daring to move beyond it.
Through the Line Break Prize, we hope to offer not just recognition but conversation—a space for artists to share work rooted in honesty, depth, and the quiet courage to say something true, a gateway into a broader creative network built by and for independent artists.
Recipients and standout applicants may be invited to take part in collaborative opportunities across the Subtext ecosystem and its partner initiatives, including exhibitions, editorial features, and other creative initiatives.Main Prize:
1 artist selected across categories
Artist receives $10,000 USD
Winning works published in both the print and digital editions of Subtext
The Line Break Prize affirms the clarity and daring of an artist’s vision. Each chosen work shapes the heart of the issue, revealing new ground for its discipline to explore.
Secondary/Publication Awards:
Up to 2 artists selected across categories
Each artist receives $2,000–$4,000 USD, depending on placement
Selected works published in both the print and digital editions of Subtext
These selections expand the dialogue of the issue, showcasing a diverse range of emerging and experimental voices that are shaping contemporary practice.
For the application, please provide 3–5 work samples digitally as a single PDF or DOCX file.
Categories
Painting
Sculpture
Photography
Textile
Mixed Media
All submissions must be made digitally through our website’s Typeform. You can visit it here or by following the button at the bottom of this page.
Applicants may submit to one category only. Submitting to multiple categories will result in disqualification; however, we recognize that some works may move fluidly between genres or interpretations of the editorial theme—these are welcome and will be considered within the closest fitting category.
Statement of Intent (300–500 words)
Include a brief bio and a short description of your submission. Use this section to provide context for your work—its intent, tone, or approach—so we can better understand how it fits within Subtext’s vision.
Original Work
All submissions must be original, unpublished, and if applicable, written in English. Co-authored or collaborative works are not eligible.
Simultaneous Submissions
We accept simultaneous submissions, provided you notify us promptly if your piece is accepted elsewhere.
Formatting
Please submit your work as a single PDF or DOCX file, with the title and name clearly listed at the top.
Deadline
Submissions close on January 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST. Late entries will not be considered.
Entry Fee
There is no submission fee. Subtext operates from the belief that access to publication and recognition should not depend on financial circumstances. This initiative is provided as a free resource as part of our ongoing commitment to support creative work and community.
Judging & Selection Process
Submissions will be reviewed by Subtext’s editorial team alongside invited guests. The process emphasizes authenticity, clarity of voice, and originality of thought over strict form or convention.
Each submission—across visual arts and writing—will be reviewed closely and considered in dialogue with the publication’s broader tone and themes. We seek work that challenges, surprises, or expands the possibilities of materials, language, and mediums—work that feels alive, necessary, and unmistakably of its time.
Final selections will be announced in Spring 2026, with winning works featured in the inaugural print and digital editions of Subtext.
*Subtext reserves the right not to confer awards if the pool of submissions does not meet the publication’s editorial standards. All decisions are final.
Submission Guidelines:
Timeline Overview:
Submissions Open: November 24 – January 31, 2026
Review Period: February – April 2026
Finalists Announced: Spring 2026*
Publication & Awards: Summer 2026*
You can find updates, open-call reminders, and behind-the-scenes insights via our official Instagram: @subtext