Applications CLOSED.

ABOUT THE STORM ZINE PROJECT

The Storm Zine Project is a series of zines that provide accurate, actionable, and grounding information to help specific communities prepare for storms and hurricanes. Each zine is made by and for a specific community — and incorporates local art, intergenerational knowledge, and disaster management expertise with a hopeful, joyful, healing vibe.

What is the Queer/Trans Guide to Storms?

This is the first zine in the series, building upon our original Queer/Trans Guide to Hurricane Season. In 2017 with a storm in the Gulf, we quickly threw together a Google doc called “The Queer Guide to Hurricane Season” specifically geared toward people who have moved to New Orleans and who may be experiencing their first storm.

In the years that followed, we expanded the guide to include specific information for transgender, nonbinary and two-spirit folks, renaming it the “Queer/Trans Hurricane Survival Guide”. We’ve continued to add content, making it more useful and relevant each year. In 2019 we began fundraising to convert the guide into a zine, and here we are.

Will there be other zines?

Yes! However, it’s important to us that artists be paid and that the zines be high quality so that they can be used over time. We do not have grant funding for this work and are currently seeking financial support for future iterations of the zine, which will be geared toward additional communities/populations.

If you are a philanthropic organization and would like to partner with us to help support this program, please email klie@imaginewaterworks.org.

How can I support this project?

The Storm Zine Project is currently funded entirely by individual donors who know us and believe in our work.  Donate here to help us pay artists and print copies for free distribution to queer and trans folks.

ABOUT THE OPEN CALL

Who’s eligible to apply?

Any LGBTQ person in Southeast Louisiana who has prepared for a local flood or storm. This zine is by us, for us.

How are you defining “Southeast Louisiana”?

The toe of the boot! That includes Emergency Preparedness Regions 1, 2, 3, and 9: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.

Is there compensation?

Yes! Queer and trans artists should be compensated for our time. Each accepted submission will receive an honorarium between $50 -$175, based on your submission.

Will I maintain the rights to my work?

Yes! Both Imagine Water Works and our Storm Zine Artists will maintain the rights to selected pieces. We may continue to use the selected pieces throughout our materials, beyond the zine itself. You may also continue to showcase and profit off your work as you please, outside of this project. If selected, we’ll both sign a contract that protects your rights to your work.

How many pieces can I submit?

Each person may submit up to 3 pieces.

How many pieces will be selected?

The total number of pieces selected for the zine will depend on the size of each submission. However, we estimate that we’ll be selecting 15-30 pieces total.

What kind of pieces can I submit?

Submissions should feel like love notes to this place and to our LGBTQ community. They can include but aren’t limited to:

• poetry
• creative writing
• photography
• prints
• drawings
• scans/photos of paintings or other forms of visual art
• collages
• song lyrics
• comic strips
• meditation mantras
• relevant helpful tips, advice, or hopeful/sweet messages
• acts of traditions or ceremonies
• acts of healing or grounding
• links (or preferably a QR code) to a video or recording

Examples of the kind of work we’re looking for can be found on our Instagram here.

How should I format my work?

The zine will be sized at 8″ x 11″. Please submit high resolution files, up to 100MB. Supported file types include: .JPEG, .PNG, .GIF, .BMP, .TIFF, .SVG, .PDF, and links or QR codes.

How do I apply?

Fill out the Google form linked below no later than June 6th at 12pm CST, and upload your submission(s) into the form when prompted. Because of printing deadlines, late submissions will not be accepted.

NOTE: You must have a Google account to access our application portal. Alternatively, you can request an application outside of Google by emailing admin@imaginewaterworks.org with the Subject Line “Zine Application”.

When will I hear back?

We will respond to everyone, regardless of whether your piece is selected for the zine. Artists will be informed on a rolling basis, no later than mid-June.

Questions? Our lead organizer for this project, Déja (she/they), can be reached at deja@imaginewaterworks.org. 

Did you know we’ve been supporting folks through storm season since 2012?

We have actively resourced our communities in coastal Louisiana through concurrent disasters for nearly a decade. Recently, we’ve worked to address the overlaps of COVID-19, social injustice, and multiple historical hurricane seasons. Since you may just be finding us for the first time, check out these additional resources:

• New Orleans Community Power Map (Charging Stations)
• Queer/Trans Guide to Hurricane Season
• COVID-19 Guide to Hurricane Season
• 24/7 Storm Prep Anonymous Q&A (Instagram)
• New Orleans Community Resource Guide
• Mutual Aid Response Network – “Imagine Mutual Aid” Facebook groups in New Orleans, Houma, and Southwest Louisiana

Some of our other recent programs include the Trans Clippers Project, Public Health Workers’ Hurricane Ida Recovery Fund, Hurricane Ida Relief at Encore Academy, Arabi Tornado Relief, Shop Arabi: Sister Hearts Tornado Relief, and the Hurricane Laura Emergency Cash Program.