Call for creative entries | Voices of Regeneration

At Unearthodox, we champion systemic change for nature through innovative strategies combining futures and systems thinking. We ask the hard questions and create solutions that regenerate nature and transform society by bringing people together to explore and reimagine new, equitable futures. 

In March 2024, we launched Regenerative Futures, in which we are exploring the roots and the expressions of the concept of regeneration. Our intention is to better understand its potential and limitations in evolving our collective journey towards societies that value and actively regenerate nature.

Through this call for entries, we would like to give a multitude of voices the opportunity to reframe and reflect on the concept of regeneration and its possible role in creating a more just future where all nature, including humans, thrives. We hope to spark conversations, inspire change-makers and identify diverse opinions and lived experiences.

We see your submission as part of the greater kaleidoscope of regeneration and would like to exhibit your work on our online platform.

1. All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges.
2. All entries that meet the submission guidelines will be displayed on the online platform. 
3. The top two entries in each category will receive 1500 CHF. These entries will be featured on the Unearthodox website.
4. Ten additional entries will be shortlisted and will receive 500 CHF each. These entries will be featured on the Unearthodox website.

While you do not need to include these values explicitly in your submission, they serve as points for reflecting on regeneration. 

• Interconnectedness: Humans are nature, not separate from nature.
• Living systems: Our health as humans is inseparable from the health of all life forms on our planet and the health of the planet itself.
• Pluriversal/Pluralism: There are multiple ways of knowing, doing and valuing life on Earth. There is no single regeneration blueprint. Instead, many coexist in the same time and space. 
• Diversity: We value diversity of thought, worldviews and perspectives. We do not seek to impose an artificial consensus or a single point of view. Instead, we aim to present the multiplicity of viewpoints around regeneration and regenerative futures.
• Inclusivity: We value unacknowledged and/or underrepresented human and non-human voices. 
• Equity: We seek to identify systemic barriers that prevent humans and non-humans from accessing equal opportunities.

Written submissions other than poems must be no more than 2000 words (not including references). Entrants may submit poems with a total word count of no more than 500 words. 

Entries must be:

• Uploaded as a PDF.
• In English.
• Typed and double-spaced.
• Containing a title appropriate to your piece if it is chosen to be featured online. Titles must not include your name.
• Each submission must be accompanied by a written summary (max 250 words) describing or commenting on your work; this might include what it means and what messages you want to convey.
• Original and with full rights held by the entrant. Plagiarism will result in disqualification. The use of generative AI is not permissible except for language translation tools.
• Accompanied by a release form (see question 16) if:
  • photos or videos of children under the age of 18 are included. A legal guardian must provide permission for the use of photos or videos of minors. 
  • third-party photos, videos or visuals are featured in uploaded content, to show permission was obtained. 
  • there are identifiable individuals in uploaded photos or videos other than yourself or credited team members. 
• Applicants must be 18 years or older.
• In any style (prose, poem, lyric, academic, literary, research-based) as long as it is in line with the theme and responds to one or more of the prompts.
• If you use quotations, please include a reference at the end.

• Each submission must have a title appropriate to your piece if it is chosen to be featured online. Entry titles must not include your name.
• Each submission must be shared in an appropriate format (see question 8). 
• Each submission must be accompanied by an artistic statement (written, audio or video, max 250 words or 2 min) describing or commenting on your work; this might include what it means and what messages you want to highlight. 
• Each submission must respond to one or more of the prompts.
• Applicants must be 18 years or older.
• A release form (see question 16) is required if:
  • photos or videos of children under the age of 18 are included. A legal guardian must provide permission for the use of photos or videos of minors. 
  • third-party photos, videos or visuals are featured in uploaded content to show permission was obtained. 
  • there are identifiable individuals in uploaded photos or videos other than yourself or credited team members.

A jury of experts will use the following criteria that assess the entry’s response to the call’s theme and prompts, as well as the impact and creativity on display:

Written submissions must be uploaded as PDFs. 

Artworks must be submitted as:

• Images and photo stories: JPEG/JPG/PNG/PDF (up to 2MB)
• Videos must be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo as MP4/MPEG/MOV files (up to 5 min in length). Please provide a link and password. 
• Auditory pieces: MP3 (up to 5 min in length)

Regrettably, we cannot accept entries that are not accompanied by an English translation. 

We welcome submissions in their original language(s) accompanied by a translation in English. Entries will not be penalised for errors in grammar or vocabulary. We encourage entries from a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. Films and videos should have English subtitles, and audio submissions should be accompanied by a written English transcript.

The call opens on 2 July 2024 and closes on 6 August 2024 at 23h59 (CEST).

We are excited to include a wide range of practices in the Artwork category. Below are some examples based on the permissible submission formats, and they are by no means the only options.

Images (JPEG/JPG/PNG/PDF up to 2MB):

• Photography - landscape, documentary, abstract, collage, portrait, etc. 
• Illustration - storyboard, concept art, digital, watercolour, acrylic, etc. 

Videos (submitted via link to YouTube/Vimeo or similar, up to 5 mins)

• Short film - interview, documentary, experimental, animation, etc 

Audio (MP3)

• Podcast - conversation, report, reflection 
• Nature recordings
• Music
• Poetry or fiction recital
• Speculative audio storytelling - soundscapes from the future

We welcome multimedia work. When submitting, please select the category that is most suited to your submission - Writing or Artwork.

Unfortunately, we cannot receive entries that are not submitted through our online submission portal. We welcome digital images of physical artwork or processes, which will be assessed on their own against the same criteria as other entries. 

Copyright of all content submitted remains with the entrant. Entrants agree to grant Unearthodox a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive licence. This allows Unearthodox to feature any or all of the submitted content in our publications, websites and promotional materials, including social media, related to the Regenerative Futures programme. The author's name will always be attributed to their work, and Unearthodox will provide prior notification to the author in all cases.

Previously published works are permissible only if the creator holds the copyright to the work and can grant Unearthodox a non-exclusive, perpetual licence for its use. If you are unsure about the copyright owner, please check with the previous publisher of the work.

We value submissions with human ingenuity at their heart and therefore this call for entries is not open to generative AI as part or whole of any submission.

We have developed release form templates to support your submission process. Please click on the links below to download the template(s) you need. Once you have completed the form(s) you can upload them as PDF documents in the relevant section of the submission platform.

• Photos or videos featuring minors under the age of 18.
• Third-party photos, music, videos or visuals.
• Identifiable individuals other than yourself or credited team members.

Submissions that are considered pornographic, violent, obscene, that incite hatred in any variant (racism, sexism, religion, etc.) as well as any that could be considered offensive by the organisation will be disqualified. Entries must not contain any infringing, threatening, false, misleading, abusive, harassing, libelous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, scandalous, inflammatory, pornographic or profane content. Entries must not contain any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offence, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law. Unearthodox reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify and remove any entry before or after its submission, that it considers inappropriate, as well as to exclude participants who do not comply with these rules if future editions of the call for entries are held. 

Personal data provided by participants will be used solely for the purposes of administering this call for creative entries and will not be shared with third parties. Participants' information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Statement.

Selected participants will also have the chance to engage with inspirational and visionary individuals from diverse backgrounds who are at the forefront of current thinking on regeneration and conservation. These opportunities may include being featured in publications, such as the Regenerative Futures State of Knowledge report or joining an Unearthodox regenerative retreat, where we will critically and creatively reflect on regeneration and co-imagine new possibilities for our future.