Deadline: 31 July 2026, 11:59 PM (WAT)
Open Arts Publishing is a boutique press dedicated to publishing bold literary and cultural work by marginalised writers whose voices reshape how we understand identity, power, and creativity.
The Open Arts prize is an annual award given to a single work of fiction from a Black writer. The prize aims to be a springboard for fresh and authentic Black and African voices, to recenter indigenous narratives, to uplift marginalised voices, and to reframe what it means to tell authentic Black stories.
The winner of the prize will receive $500 for an unpublished work in fiction.
Theme
The theme for the inaugural submission is Inheritance. Nothing—revolution, metamorphosis, enlightenment, and chaos—exists in a vacuum. We are looking for work that explores the complexities of acknowledging and moving through the world with the weight of an inheritance while striving for something entirely our own. An inheritance can be culture, land, language, silence, trauma, names, gods, debt, love, etc.
We are looking for truth told with boldness, fierceness and grace.
Who Can Submit?
Black and African Writers.
Submission Guidelines
Work that does not follow these guidelines will not be accepted.
- Word count: Submissions must not exceed 3,500 words.
- Language: We currently only accept submissions written in English.
- Format: Submit as a Word document (.doc or .docx). Use Times New Roman or Garamond, 12pt.
- Deadline: 31st July 2026, 11:59 PM (WAT)
- Previously published work: We accept only original, unpublished work. Work posted on social media, personal blogs, or in other formats (audio and video) is considered published.
- Multiple submissions: No multiple submissions. Please submit to one category only.
- Simultaneous submissions: We accept simultaneous submissions, but if your work is accepted elsewhere while under consideration, please withdraw your submission.
- Response time: We will respond to all submissions two weeks after the submission deadline. Please do not query before this date.
- Send queries and submissions to submissions@openarts.press
What not to submit
- Any work written with or edited by AI.
- Poetry (including prose poetry)
- Academic treatments or essays
- Translations