Submissions

Would you like to write for the IAQ? We want to know!

The IAQ publishes engaging thoughtful stories, for both the print magazine and our website, from across Inuit Nunangat and beyond that centre the experiences and work of Inuit artists across all mediums. We publish a wide range of stories, including artist interviews, historical analyses and personal essays.

We prioritize emerging and established Inuit writers. We also want to hear from those who identify as Indigenous, Black, people of colour, disabled, women, queer, trans or non-binary persons or any combination of these intersections. The IAQ also welcomes international perspectives, especially from across the circumpolar North.

We are commited to working closely with emerging writers. If you have never been published before but have a story or unique perspective you’d like to share about Inuit artists and their practices, please let us know! You do not need to have been published before to work with our team.

Rates – New Increase for 2021!  

The IAQ is committed to offering competitive rates for accepted online and print submissions. In addition to a complimentary copy of the magazine, writers will be paid $1 per word for both print and online content:

  • $1,750 for feature articles and interviews
  • $500 for artist profiles and other front-of-book pieces
  • $250 for reviews (Please note: we are not currently publishing reviews)
  • Word counts for web stories may vary but still honour the same pay rate.

Writers are paid by e-transfer the Friday after their invoices are received, unless they request alternate arrangements. We do not hold invoices for payment.

Curious about what our terms look like? Check out our standard writer's contract.

Pitching IAQ


Themed Pitches

Each print issue of the IAQ is centred around a theme, which can be intepreted in many ways. The next issue’s theme is:


Freeze-Up
Winter 2021
Pitch Deadline: June 3, 2021
Released: December 5, 2021

Across Inuit Nunangat, there is a transformative experience that is shared among Inuit communities—the freeze up of sea ice in the latter months of the year. This freeze up means a welcoming of many things: the ability to travel to places unreachable during the warmer months; visits to family and friends; ice fishing and other wintry activities. On the other hand, this freezing means a closing up—a pulling inwards as families gather to keep warm, feast, dance and play games together.

For our Winter 2021 issue, we welcome submissions that explore ideas around the beauty and power of ice and freezing, both literally and figuratively, including:

  • Travel, transportation and accessibility
  • Sea ice changes, climate change
  • Moments captured, movements “frozen in time,” and documentary practices
  • The role of ice and snow in creating art
  • Materials preserved in ice (e.g., bones and ivory), discoveries in permafrost
  • Dances, games and songs common during winter months 
  • Keeping warm (e.g., qulliq, sealskin, blubber)
  • Creations and imaginings born from periods of being “stuck in place”

Please send pitches to: iaq [at] inuitartfoundation [dot] org and include “Submission for 34.4 (Winter 2021)” in the subject line.

In addition, the IAQ is looking for pitches on these topics for online:

  • The influence of family practices on contemporary art makers
  • Community perspectives on local artists and their practices
  • Profiles of emerging artists
  • New reflections on the history of Inuit art

Open Call

Do you have a great idea for an article on Inuit art that doesn’t fit these themes? We want to hear from you! The IAQ accepts pitches on topics about Inuit artists and their work year-round. Please send open pitches to: iaq [at] inuitartfoundation [dot] or and include “Open Call” in the subject.

Want an assignment?

In addition to our ongoing open call for pitches, we are also looking for stories that fit the specific themes of our upcoming issues and for online. Are you interested in writing for the IAQ, but would prefer to be assigned a story, or want to talk about potential ways to contribute? Please feel free to send along a quick bio and writing sample to: iaq [at] inuitartfoundation [dot] org.

Submission Tools & Tips

Pitches should be around 250 words, and outline the highlights of your piece: the subject, artists or artworks you intend to include, what ideas or concepts your feature will discuss, along with any other information you consider relevant. Also, please tell us a little about yourself and why you are the person to write this story!

For a better idea of the type of stories we love or to see if your idea has already been covered, all IAQ Online content is available for free, and the IAQ offers its print magazine back issues as free PDFS.

Writing for IAQ

We prioritize writer’s needs in our process. All writers will be assigned a handling editor who will step you through the process from story idea to final copy. Writers can generally expect two rounds of feedback before signing off on the final draft, which normally takes 6-8 weeks to complete. The IAQ is also happy to provide background materials relevant to your article, including image research and help connecting with experts.

For style guidelines, the IAQ uses an in-house Author Style Guide. Our style guide is an evolving document, and we welcome feedback from community members, writers and artists. If you have a question or suggestion, please let us know at iaq [at] inuitartfoundation [dot] org! 

5Works-BAakavak-Ice
Billy Akavak Nila (Ice) (2004) COURTESY peabody essex museum
Upcoming Issues 

The Legacies Issue
Fall 2021
Deadline: March 30, 2021
Newsstand: September 15, 2021

The Freeze-Up Issue
Winter 2021
Deadline: June 3, 2021
Newsstand: December 5, 2021

The Break-Up Issue
Spring 2022
Deadline: October 1, 2021
Newsstand: March 15, 2022