NB: Running Dog’s submission period is currently closed.
Running Dog is committed to providing opportunities for both emerging and established writers. We believe that arts writing is a creative act in itself, and Running Dog aims to move away from formulaic reviews and features. We encourage contributors to experiment with different modes of writing about contemporary art, and we have published poetry, audio works, long-form essays and video responses. It should also be noted that the term ‘contemporary art’ is being deployed widely here, and can include performances, films, books, online exhibition platforms and music events.
Writers are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the content and style of Running Dog before submitting pitch ideas. Discussions about the publication’s ethos can be found in the ongoing Letter from the Editor series. You can find work by our poetry residents via our Poetry page, and our themed issues via the special issues link.
Running Dog wishes to broaden the scope of contemporary arts writing, and current contributors include poets, music critics, film scholars and fiction writers. Previous experience working within the arts writing field is not required.
Please note that Running Dog is currently interested in reviews and feature articles on exhibitions or events taking place in Sydney and regional New South Wales, or responses that refer to work that is accessible to readers living in New South Wales (ie online exhibitions, film screenings etc). We do not publish profiles, artist interviews or exhibition previews.
Running Dog also aims to publish content whilst exhibitions are still on view—please consider such a timeline in your proposal. Writers are given a suggested word limit of 1200 words, but such a limit is flexible following discussions with the editor. We are also open to multi-part series or extended features.
When submitting to Running Dog please include:
- A brief bio or CV (no more than 1 page)
- A pitch about what you want to write about, or alternatively, the areas of contemporary art that you would be interested in responding to and why
- Two writing samples (no more than 3 pages in total)
Submissions should be sent to: submissions@rundog.art
In addition to pitches, we also conduct call outs for our poetry micro-residencies and themed issues via our news page. Sign up to our newsletter at the bottom of this page to be notified of call outs by email.
All writers are paid for their work.
Some of the writers that have inspired this publication are:
Hilton Als, Anne Boyer, Teju Cole, Wayne Koestenbaum, Wesley Morris, Eileen Myles, Mary Ruefle, James Schuyler and Zadie Smith.
Some of the publications that have inspired Running Dog are:
The Brooklyn Rail, Contemptorary, Commune, Hyperallergic, Kill Your Darlings, Metatron Press, The New Inquiry, Real Life and Triple Canopy