What is DSTL Arts?

DSTL Arts is a 501c3 nonprofit arts mentorship organization that inspires, teaches, and hires emerging artists from underserved communities.

Based in Los Angeles, CA, we achieve our mission through multiple programs and services that inspire people of all ages in our community, and we empower them to be the artists they know themselves to be.

The acronym in our name stands for Develop Skills and Transcend Limits, which we believe can be done through the Arts. Our vision is to replace the idea of the starving artist, with the reality of the working artist in the minds of all our program participants.

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Submit to Aurtistic Zine – Submission Form

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 if your work is accepted for publication within three (3) weeks after our current submission deadline.

Submission period:

January 24, 2025 – July 11, 2025

  • Expected publication date: September 15 (annually)

Submissions are accepted online only and must follow our guidelines.


Current Theme: Snapshot

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 Generative 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 a title and the 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 are 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 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:

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 the 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, Fine Art, and Illustrations (including Mixed Media/Collage):

  • 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
DSTL Arts