You don’t have to look far to find creative talent in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. There are mural festivals and art showcases, creative writing groups and podcast series showcasing poetry. Community members have had their work worn by athletes and printed in hardcover. At O’odham Action News, we love covering the creativity of the Community so much that we want to dedicate a space for it. 

In January 2027, we are planning to publish a special edition dedicated to the artistry of the SRPMIC. Until Nov. 20, OAN will be accepting submissions of either written or visual artwork from enrolled Community members, who can then say they have the distinction of being formally published. 

For some folks, this could be their first opportunity to have their work recognized. Getting a foot in the door is a challenge, and by creating this opportunity for Community members, we hope to help make that first step easier.

For this first edition, several guidelines were agreed upon for submissions. Written works including short stories, poems and personal essays need to be limited to 1,000 words. For visual art, we are asking for either a digital copy or a photo of the work. Upon confirmation that it will be included in the special edition, we plan to invite the artist and their piece to the Creative Ki: studio for a professional photo shoot. This will ensure the highest-quality representation of the artwork is available. 

There are some restrictions, as this is only open to enrolled Community members. It’s also important to note that we are asking for content that is appropriate for all age groups, and we will reject submissions deemed offensive. We also are not accepting AI-based submissions.

Community members can submit up to three pieces each. Submissions may be in the same category or in different mediums as long as the total number of works submitted does not exceed three. 

The deadline to submit work is Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. After closing, we will review the entries and reach out to the artists to let them know if their work was selected. At that time, we will address any further steps.

To review the full entry guidelines and submit your work, please visit https://tinyurl.com/OANArtMag.