The aim of the project is to bring together different creatives working in or connected to Frome and Somerset, and have fun.

I want the zine to help raise the profile of the artists and writers involved and add to our local community.

It’s free to enter.

Submit artworks or writing on the theme “eleven.” This is completely subjective, and can be abstract or literal.

You need to be based within 20-ish miles of Frome, or have a connection to Frome or Peradam (such as being a customer or client).

I’m not interested in AI generated artwork or writing, unless you’re using AI in a highly conceptually-led way or it is a development of an established practice. I recommend you only send work that you yourself have created. All work must be original and the copyright must be owned by you.

See size tab below for advice about sizes and word counts

I’m giving myself a year starting in April 2026 to gather material, design the zine and print or distribute it in whatever form it ends up taking. The finished zine will be published in spring 2027.

Deadline

I’m considering submissions up until August 31st or sooner if I feel I have enough content.

This will be an experimental zine, a process of discovery rather than everything mapped out in advance. For now I don’t know for sure what format the zine will take.

This project has no funding, so it’s a for-the-love-of-it thing. If you are a local business owner and would consider buying an advert or sponsorship, please get in touch.

My printing budget is very small, so I’m thinking of running a cover competition and other fundraisers. The amount we raise will determine the format it takes, whether it’s a glossy perfect bound journal, or DIY photocopied and stapled (I’m thinking along the lines of the latter either way at the moment - taking inspiration from my time in Terry Jones’s i-D archive and the 1st i-D issues). The final aesthetic and design will reflect and accept the limitations of this approach. It might end up being a digital download with only a limited print run.

I will approach local shops and galleries about stocking copies, and it will be available on our website.

It might be something that is for sale, or free. If it’s the latter it will be funded exclusively by advertising and sponsorship… or blood, sweat and tears.

If it generates any profits they will be split equally among the contributors, with the option of donating to Black Swan Arts 40th anniversary fundraiser. It’ll be totally up to individuals whether their share is donated or not - either way I hope that the zine can raise a bit of money to boost the arts in and around Frome, whether that’s individual artists or to the Black Swan.

I’ve not finalised the size but most likely it’s going to be A size, either A5 or A4. If you make artwork so it’s 300dpi at A4-ish size, it should be fine. I will use my design skills to make things work 💪

For writing, please keep it under 1000 words if you can. I’ll consider some longer stuff if it fits the vibe really well, but too much longer than 1000 words is going to be harder to work with so less likely that I’ll select it.

You can send more than 1 thing. Just don’t send me loads of things.

I’m thinking about running a competition for the cover image later in the process. This will be a fundraiser to enable us to print or distribute the zine. If you’re interested in this possibility, please indicate that on the submission form (there’s a box to tick about it)

Entry fee is likely to be around £15 per image.

If you have artwork, writing, or design that represents 11 in whatever way then fill in the submissions form below.

Please let me know a little about yourself, and what you plan to submit and I will get back to you.