Open Call for Poetry Submissions: A celebration of land – through poetry, art, and community.

Introduction to the Project

“Poems from the Washing Lines” is a weekend of events featuring art installations, poetry recitals (curated and open mic), and community engagement. Now in its second year, this project is a collaboration between Qisetna and Westminster Council in Southwest London. Events will include a workshop, a poetry-based art installation, and a live poetry event.

The art installation and poetry readings will be curated through this open submissions call. Selected poems may also be published in an anthology later in 2025. Rawanee is working with Qisetna as the editorial and curatorial lead, overseeing submissions, selection, and the delivery of the poetry content for the events.

Community Engagement & Participation

We welcome submissions from people of all ages and backgrounds, especially those from migrant, refugee, and underrepresented communities. The theme of “Land” will be explored through poetry to amplify local voices and encourage intergenerational dialogue about nature, home, and belonging.

Theme: Land

We invite poems that explore ideas of Land in all its forms – whether it is the land you stand on, or the land you’ve left behind. Interpretations can range from migration and memory to climate crisis and renewal. This collection will be a literary exploration of the deep connections between people, place, and the landscapes – emotional, political, environmental – that we navigate.

Key Themes:

• Sustainability
• Climate
• Home
• Displacement
• Change
• Connection
• Loss

Suggested Sub-themes:

• Connection to the Land: Emotional, historical, and ancestral links to place.
• Movement Across the Land: Migration, displacement, and resettlement.
• The Changing Land: How changing geographies shape identity.
• Rebuilding the Land: Resilience, restoration, and imagining new futures.

Who Can Submit?

This opportunity is open internationally to poets of all ages and backgrounds.

Guidelines for Submission

• Submit 1 original poem (up to 30 lines excluding title).
• Poems must be previously unpublished.
• Language: English only.
• Format: .docx or .pdf.
• Anonymity: The submission file itself (the .docx or .pdf) should not contain your name or any identifying information.
• Email Body Content: In the body of your submission email, please include:
  • Author name
  • 100-word bio
  • Title of your poem
  • Line count of your poem
  • Your email address
  • Your phone number

Submission Deadline

Submissions have been extended until 19th June 2025.

Note on Previously Published Work

We welcome previously published poems provided the author retains the rights to their work. Writers will continue to retain full copyright, and all selected work will be published or displayed with full credit to the author.

Plagiarism and AI Policy

Plagiarised or AI-generated content will be disqualified. Offenders will be barred from future opportunities with Rawanee and Qisetna.

How to Submit

Submit your poem via email to: [email protected]

What Happens Next?

• Selection: A panel of established poets will review all eligible submissions.
• Exhibition: Selected poems will be featured in “Poems from the Washing Lines,” a public art installation where poems are hung on washing lines in Moat Garden, London, during Refugee Week 2025.
• Publication: Selected poems will also be considered for inclusion in a printed anthology to be released later in 2025.
• Live Event: Contributors may be invited to perform at a community poetry event in June.

Rights & Copyright

Authors retain full copyright of their work. Rawanee will not edit any submissions without prior approval from the poet. Selected poems will be published or displayed with full credit to the author. The Editor agrees to make reasonable efforts to notify the Author in advance of any editorial changes in the title and/or text of the Work, and to secure the Author’s approval for any such changes whenever possible. The author agrees that such approval will not be unreasonably withheld. Publishers shall at all times retain the right of final approval over all elements of the Work. All revisions and corrections shall be subject to Publisher’s absolute approval.

Questions?

• Contact us at: [email protected]
• Submit your poem via email to: [email protected]