Art features

Overview

Art features highlight the work of a diverse range of artists, giving voice to thematic content that may not be strictly editorial. They may be optimized for print (1-4 pages each) or web. The format and layout of an art feature may be highly content-specific, and in most cases, the feature itself will be collaboratively produced by the artist and editor (with optional support from a designer). A few examples of how art features may be presented:

• As an embedded work of art. In other words, the page itself is a piece like a flyer, zine, or full-page image;

• As a visual essay;

• As photographic and/or written documentation of an artwork;

• As an interview or discussion;

Editorial process

Due to the small number of art features accepted for print, as well as the low volume of submissions currently, the editorial process for art features should be more specific than that for written content. In order for the art features in an issue to be complimentary, there should be a vision and goal statement for the entire set of art features (or all issue artwork) as early as possible and outreach to artists/organizations should be carefully managed.

Many artists are not financially supported by an academic institution or publication; and there should be sensitivity to how work is selected and published, for example, by managing expectations appropriately and ensuring that the publication of an artist’s work is mutually beneficial. Editors should work closely with artists to ensure that artists are afforded an appropriate level of creative control, remuneration, and liberty to advance specific, political or progressive agendas that inform their work (e.g., editors should not censor artists’ contributions).

Editors may work with arts organizations instead of (or in addition to) individual artists. For example, an SftP editor may allow an organization to curate or produce a four-page feature from among its network of artists.

The broad process should follow these steps.

1. SftP writes an artwork vision for the issue. The vision, including an estimated total page count, should be finalized by the art team and shared with the EC at an early stage of magazine planning to agree on estimated page count/budget;

2. Several approaches have been taken in the past for the next step:

   1. Direct outreach

      1. SftP produces shortlist and longlist of artists, organizations, and collectives to solicit work and/or collaboration from;

      2. SftP editors contact each artist, organization, and collective individually, describing the desired collaboration and setting expectations. This should occur iteravely until a full set of art features has been identified;

   2. Open call

      1. SftP prepares an open call for artwork submissions to the issue. This should include a written statement, as well as a set of networks, amplifiers, or communities to specifically target with outreach.

      2. SftP draws from open call to select issue artwork

3. Each selected artist, organization, and collective is assigned an SftP editor (most likely the same editor who solicited them) who coordinates with artists, e.g., deciding the appropriate format for work;