"Food provides a sensuous and social space for drawing on the past to construct the present and imagine the future" - Monica Janowski

Past
The intimate sensory world of food and upbringing.

Stories and reflections on:

• family food traditions and kitchens as spaces of intimacy

• migrant homes, objects, and mementos

• food memories and the comfort of home

Present
Where identity meets social reality.

Stories and reflections on:

• experiences of hospitality and tension

• the hospitality sector

• mixed-heritage perspectives

• negotiating identity and belonging in a changing society

Future
The public space where migration reshapes culture.

Stories and reflections on:

• speculative and experimental visions of Ireland

• how the past shapes the evolving Irish identity

• migrants’ influence on urban life and culture

You can submit to Bia! Zine if you are:

• part of the Global Majority

• based in or are connected to Ireland

Global majority refers to people who are:

• African

• Asian

• Latin-American

• mixed-heritage

• indigenous to the global south

• racialised as 'ethnic minorities'

You don’t need to be a food writer or artist to submit to Bia! Zine.

We welcome all submissions regardless of your background, age, experience level, discipline, or gender.

Please note that because our page space and printing budget is limited, meeting the above criteria and submitting to Bia! Zine does not guarantee you will be featured in the zine.

We’re open to visual or written submissions. Bia! is a print publication and we are unable to accept audio or video submissions.

We’re rooted in personal, migrant-centred storytelling and creativity.

We love:

• personal stories

• poetry

• short stories

• art (illustrations, collage, painting etc)

• photography

• images from your personal archives

• handwritten recipes and notes

While we occasionally spotlight businesses or families, we are not a traditional food magazine and do not regularly accept “features” or promotional business profiles.

That said, if you’re interested in pitching a feature-style piece or interview that is grounded in personal narrative and care rather than promotion, we’re happy to discuss.

If you need some inspiration, follow us on Instagram

Please read these guideline before submitting your written or visual work.

Written Submissions

Max word count for written pieces: 1000 words.

Send as Google Docs/Word Docs - no PDFS.

Visual Submissions

Max number of images you can send: 8

Send as a PNG or JPEG - no PDFS.

We are open to submissions of previously published work if it fits our theme/criteria.

Original work is always preferred.

Currently, we do not pay contributors.

We’re a small publication with a small budget. But we’re actively exploring our options. We’re optimistic that we will be able to pay contributors for their work in the near future.

If you are selected as a contributor to Bia! Zine, you will receive a free copy of the zine and other tokens of our appreciation <3

Bia! Zine is released once every 2 years.

If you missed this submissions cycle, follow us on Instagram for opportunities to submit your work to mini-issues or similar zines.