What is DSTL Arts?

Conchas y Café Zine is a biannual DSTL Arts publication produced through our 15-week Conchas y Café Bilingual Community Writing Workshop series. The workshop series is offered twice a year and each 15-week series explores a different theme and various creative writing techniques.

To participate in the current workshop series and have full access to the workshop materials and DSTL Arts staff feedback on your poetry and writing before submission, ENROLL FOR FREE through Google Classroom using the following link (no Gmail account required): https://classroom.google.com/c/NjE3NDc1ODExNDM0?cjc=qjgt3cy

Submissions to Conchas y Café Zine are FREE and open to individuals, ages 18 and up, residing in Los Angeles County (unless fully enrolled in our workshop series). Please read the following submission guidelines before submitting your artwork for consideration. Submissions that do not follow our guidelines will not be considered for publication.

Artists whose work is accepted for publication will receive one (1) FREE contributor's copy of the upcoming issue of Conchas y Café Zine. We will contact you should your work be accepted for publication within one (1) week after our current deadline.

Current Submission Period and Workshop Dates:

January 30, 2024–May 7, 2024

Publication Release (tentative): June 30, 2024

Submissions are accepted online only and must follow our guidelines.

Current Theme: Through the Lens

Submission Guidelines

• Submitting Artists must agree to the Terms of Use noted on this submission form and guarantee that no part of this submission is generated using Artificial Intelligence platforms.
• All submissions must be theme-appropriate.
• Submissions that do not fit under the current theme will not be considered for publication.
• For more details about the current theme and possible inspiration, go to: https://DSTLArts.org/conchasycafezine
• Media-specific guidelines below:
   

Creative Writing Submissions:

All creative writing submissions must be typed, 12pt., Times New Roman font, or similar, and must include title and author’s name as you wish it to appear in the zine.

Creative writing submissions must be uploaded in either .pdf, .doc, or .docx format.

Submissions must be written primarily in English and/or Spanish. Other languages welcome within your text, but the overall written work must be primarily English or Spanish.

Poetry:

• All types, forms, and styles accepted (ex. haiku, sonnet, free-form, etc.)
• Up to five (5) poems, not to exceed ten (10) pages total
• Poetry submissions must be formatted as you would want them to appear in the zine. (Note: the font will be changed, but your line breaks, indentations, etc. will be preserved as much as possible)

Flash Fiction/Short Stories/Creative Nonfiction:

• 500 words or less
• Single-spaced
• Up to two (2) works of prose per person
• Ensure all spelling, grammar, formatting, etc. is complete and finalized. No edits shall be made after submission.

Visual Art Submissions:

(including Mixed Media/Collage, Comics, Illustrations, and Photography)

All visual art must be submitted as:

• .JPG or .PNG format at 300dpi resolution (print-ready resolution only, NO SCREEN SHOTS OR SOCIAL MEDIA DOWNLOADS)
• All artwork must be converted to CMYK color space.

Comics:

• 5” x 8” margins, portrait orientation. Anything outside the 5” x 8” margin will be cropped out, so keep important elements within those margins.
• Four (4) pages per comic, maximum
• Artists may submit up to two (2), 4pg. comics (8 pages total of illustrated work)

Photography and Illustrations (including Mixed Media/Collages):

• 5”x 8” margins
• .JPG or .PNG format, 300dpi (print-ready resolution only, NO SCREEN SHOTS OR SOCIAL MEDIA DOWNLOADS)
• Artists may submit up to two (2) illustrations and/or two (2) photographs

Elevating voices to empower our community–that is the goal of our Creative Impact artist-led workshops and anthologies provided to the general public.

Teaching Artist Interns from our Poet/Artist Development Program collaborate with DSTL Arts staff to develop workshop topics related to social justice, community development, and the overall well-being of our local communities, and offer instruction in tools for creative expression that can be used to address those same issues.

Annually, these workshops culminate in the release and public reading of a community-generated anthology of poetry, art, and more, further celebrating the unique voices of our diverse community members.

Workshop attendance is not required for submission to our community-generated anthologies, however, it is highly recommended and made available through hybrid (in-person and virtual) offerings.

Upcoming Creative Impact Workshop sessions can be found on our Workshop and Events Calendar.

Current Creative Impact Theme:

"LA Transit"

We seek visual art, stories, poetry, photography, and comics that reflect on, critique, and explore the impact of Mass Transit on the environment and the people of Los Angeles County. From the history of the trolley and modern-day public transportation to the resurgence of cycling and the future of electric vehicles for mitigating climate change, we seek artwork that looks toward a future where Los Angeles can overcome its polluted past and become a metropolis that nurtures its people as much as its environment.

Submission period:

October 20, 2023–May 15, 2024

Expected Publication Date: Late-June/Early-July, 2024

Submissions are only accepted online and must follow our guidelines.

If you need inspiration, refer to the handouts and recordings of our artist-led workshops specifically related to our current themes here.

Submission Guidelines

• Submitting Artists must work or reside in Los Angeles County, agree to the Terms of Use noted on this submission form, and guarantee that no part of this submission is generated using Artificial Intelligence platforms.
• All submissions must be theme-appropriate.
• Submissions that do not fit under the current theme will not be considered for publication.
• For more information on the current theme and possible inspiration, visit https://DSTLArts.org/creativeimpact.
• Media-specific guidelines below:

Creative Writing Submissions:

• All creative writing submissions must be typed, 12pt. Times New Roman font, or similar, and must include the title and author’s name as you wish it to appear in the publication.
• Creative writing submissions must be uploaded in either .pdf, .doc, or .docx format.

Poetry:

• All types, forms, and styles accepted (ex. haiku, sonnet, free-form, etc.)
• Up to two (2) poems, not to exceed five (5) pages total
• Poetry submissions must be formatted as you would want them to appear in the publication. (Note: the font will be changed, but your line breaks, indentations, etc. will be preserved as much as possible)

Flash Fiction/Short Stories/Creative Nonfiction:

• 500 words or less
• Single-spaced
• Up to two (2) works of prose per person
• Ensure all spelling, grammar, formatting, etc. is complete and finalized. No edits shall be made after submission.

Visual Art Submissions:
  All visual art must be submitted as:

• .JPG or .PNG format at 300dpi resolution (print-ready resolution only, NO SCREEN SHOTS OR SOCIAL MEDIA DOWNLOADS)
• All artwork must be converted to CMYK color space.

Comics:

• 8” x 10” margins, portrait orientation. Anything outside 8” x 10” margin will be cropped out, so keep important elements within those margins.
• Four (4) pages per comic, maximum
• Artists may submit up to two (2), 4pg. comics (8 pages total of illustrated work)

Photography and Illustrations (including Mixed Media/Collage):

• 8”x 10” margins
• .JPG or .PNG format, 300dpi (print-ready resolution only, NO SCREEN SHOTS OR SOCIAL MEDIA DOWNLOADS)
• Artists may submit up to two (2) illustrations and/or two (2) photographs

Aurtistic Zine is an annual DSTL Arts publication focused on showcasing the diverse talents of Autistic individuals. With this zine we hope to provide a platform that highlights the artistry of the Autism community. We want to show the individual as a whole person and not just a missing piece to a puzzle.

Submissions to Aurtistic Zine are FREE and open to individuals on the Autism spectrum, ages 6 and up, residing in the U.S. Please read the following submission guidelines before submitting your artwork for consideration. Submissions that do not follow our guidelines will not be considered for publication.

Artists whose work is accepted for publication will receive one (1) FREE contributor's copy of the upcoming issue of Aurtistic Zine. We will contact you should your work be accepted for publication within three (3) weeks after our current deadline.

Submission period:

February 15, 2024 – July 31, 2024

• Expected publication date: September 15, 2024

Submissions are accepted online only and must follow our guidelines.

Current Theme: Play

Submission Guidelines

• Submitting Artists must be on the Autism spectrum, ages 6 or older, and reside in the U.S.
• Submitting Artists must also agree to the Terms of Use noted on this submission form and guarantee that no part of this submission is generated using Artificial Intelligence platforms.
• Youth ages 6–17 years old may submit artwork that is not related to the current theme for our Featured Artists section.
• Theme-related submissions are accepted from individuals ages 14 and older.
• Theme-related submissions that do not fit under the current theme will not be considered for publication.
• For more details about the current theme and possible inspiration, go to https://DSTLArts.org/aurtisticzine
• Media-specific guidelines below:

Creative Writing Submissions:

• All creative writing submissions must be typed, 12pt., Times New Roman font, or similar, and must include title and author’s name as you wish it to appear in the zine.
• Creative writing submissions must be uploaded in either .pdf, .doc, or .docx format.
• Submissions must be written primarily in English and/or Spanish. Other languages welcome within your text, but the overall written work must be primarily English or Spanish.

Poetry:

• All types, forms, and styles accepted (ex. haiku, sonnet, free-form, etc.)
• Up to two (2) poems, not to exceed five (5) pages total.
• Poetry submissions must be formatted as you would want them to appear in the zine. (Note: the font will be changed, but your line breaks, indentations, etc. will be preserved as much as possible)

Flash Fiction/Short Stories/Creative Nonfiction:

• 500 words or less
• Single-spaced
• Up to two (2) works of prose per person
• Ensure all spelling, grammar, formatting, etc. is complete and finalized. No edits shall be made after submission.

Visual Art Submissions (including Mixed Media/Collage and Ceramics):

All visual art must be submitted as:

• .JPG or .PNG format at 300dpi resolution (print-ready resolution only, NO SCREEN SHOTS OR SOCIAL MEDIA DOWNLOADS)
• All artwork must be converted to CMYK color space.

Comics:

• 8.5” x 11” margins, portrait orientation. Anything outside 8.5” x 11” margin will be cropped out, so keep important elements within those margins.
• Four (4) pages per comic, maximum
• Artists may submit up to two (2), 4pg. comics (8 pages total of illustrated work)

Photography and Illustrations (including Mixed Media/Collage and Ceramics):

• 8.5”x 11” margins
• .JPG or .PNG format, 300dpi (print-ready resolution only, NO SCREEN SHOTS OR SOCIAL MEDIA DOWNLOADS)
• Artists may submit up to two (2) illustrations and/or two (2) photographs

Art Block Zine is a DSTL Arts publication featuring emerging artists residing in Los Angeles County. Our Editorial Board produces our annual print-zine anthology and also co-hosts Art Block, a podcast featuring interviews with emerging writers and artists from Los Angeles and beyond.

Submissions to Art Block Zine are FREE and open to individuals, ages 16 and up, residing in Los Angeles County. Please read the following submission guidelines before submitting your artwork for consideration. Submissions that do not follow our guidelines will not be considered for publication.

Artists whose work is accepted for publication will receive one (1) FREE contributor's copy of the upcoming issue of Art Block Zine. We will contact you should your work be accepted for publication within three (3) weeks after our current deadline.

Current Submission Period:

Dec. 4, 2023–May 31, 2024

Publication Release (tentative)

• July 15th (annually)

Submissions are accepted online only and must follow our guidelines.

Current Theme: Good/Evil

Submission Guidelines

• Submitting Artists must reside in Los Angeles County, agree to the Terms of Use noted on this submission form, and must guarantee that no part of this submission is generated using Artificial Intelligence platforms.
• All submissions must be theme-appropriate.
• Submissions that do not fit under the current theme will not be considered for publication.
• For more details related to the current theme and possible inspiration, go to: https://DSTLArts.org/artblockzine
• Media-specific guidelines below:
  

Creative Writing Submissions:

• All creative writing submissions must be typed, 12pt., Times New Roman font, or similar, and must include title and author’s name as you wish it to appear in the zine.
• Creative writing submissions must be uploaded in either .pdf, .doc, or .docx format.
• Submissions must be written primarily in English and/or Spanish. Other languages welcome within your text, but the overall written work must be primarily English or Spanish.

Poetry:

• All types, forms, and styles accepted (ex. haiku, sonnet, free-form, etc.)
• Up to two (2) poems, not to exceed five (5) pages total
• Poetry submissions must be formatted as you would want them to appear in the zine. (Note: the font will be changed, but your line breaks, indentations, etc. will be preserved as much as possible)

Flash Fiction/Short Stories/Creative Nonfiction:

• 500 words or less
• Single-spaced
• Up to two (2) works of prose per person
• Ensure all spelling, grammar, formatting, etc. is complete and finalized. No edits shall be made after submission.
  

Visual Art Submissions (including Mixed Media/Collage and Ceramics):

All visual art must be submitted as:

• .JPG or .PNG format at 300dpi resolution (print-ready resolution only, NO SCREEN SHOTS OR SOCIAL MEDIA DOWNLOADS)
• All artwork must be converted to CMYK color space.

Comics:

• 8.5” x 11” margins, portrait orientation. Anything outside 8.5” x 11” margin will be cropped out, so keep important elements within those margins.
• Four (4) pages per comic, maximum
• Artists may submit up to two (2), 4pg. comics (8 pages total of illustrated work)

Photography and Illustrations (including Mixed Media/Collage and Ceramics):

• 8.5”x 11” margins
• .JPG or .PNG format, 300dpi (print-ready resolution only, NO SCREEN SHOTS OR SOCIAL MEDIA DOWNLOADS)
• Artists may submit up to two (2) illustrations and/or photographs