Founding Editor, Colin Hambrook gives guidance and advice on how to pitch an idea for consideration on Disability Arts Online’s digital magazine.

Disability Arts Online accepts unsolicited ideas for content for our digital magazine.

You should send your idea in the form of an email with a short description of the work you wish to propose for publication.
This is what is formally known as a ‘pitch’.

We only accept pitches which relate to arts and culture and have some relation to disability (for the avoidance of doubt as well as mobility and sensory impairments this includes neurodivergence, long-term health conditions, mental health and Deaf culture). 

All pitches should be directed to [email protected]  

If you have an existing relationship with a member of the DAO team, it’s okay to CC them in, but the pitch must go to the editorial inbox to be considered.

What makes a good pitch? 

• It should be of the moment, for example a current exhibition or show, a topic which is in the news or a general trend which can be identified.
• It might relate the thing in question to broader concerns, especially for disabled people in the arts and culture or accessibility.
• It should have supporting evidence. So for example, if you are talking about underrepresentation of disabled people in publishing, are there any statistics which could back this up?
• It should have importance to the wider disability arts community. So for example If a disability play or exhibition you want to review has themes that encompass ideas of work that are part of an ongoing narrative or set a new precedent then explain your expectations or why it is important to you.
• We like to see originality. Perhaps a unique angle on an existing story, or a topic we’ve not covered before but would be of interest to our readers.
• Try to make it stand out:- it could be a catchy title, a powerful quote from a related person or striking images.

In addition to all content having to be related to disability arts and culture or wider accessibility concerns in the arts, we also have the following editorial priorities:

• Discussion or work which explores how disability intersects with other aspects of marginalization such as race, class, sexuality, gender. We are particularly interested in the contributions from and coverage of disabled creatives who also have lived experience of racism.
• Disability Arts work happening outside of London. Work happening outside of major metropolitan areas is also of key interest.
• Work and contributions from learning-disabled creatives.
• Work and contributions from D/deaf creatives.
• Work and discussion which covers environmental issues and highlights the climate crisis.
• Reflections on curation in the visual arts.
• Interviews which seek to profile the work of writers, artists or other practitioners working in disability arts. 

How to format the pitch

• Put the word pitch in the subject line of your email. Make sure your title is eye-catching.
• The pitch should be 100-250 words maximum.
• State what format the content will take, we currently publish reviews, interviews, opinion pieces and showcases of work from contributors. You can pitch in either text, audio or video formats.
  Multimedia pieces could be delivered to camera, as audio over images of work or as an interview conducted via Zoom. Please indicate in your pitch how you would approach this. Also mention any technical support you might need.
• Kick off with something attention grabbing. Mention any timely/deadline elements towards the beginning of the pitch.
  Do try and key into something current if you can – like a new piece of research or a social media storm.
• Remember to get across the answers to the key who, what, where, why (and why now) questions relating to your pitch. Who is the artist or company and what is the work about? Where and when is it happening? Why is it interesting or relevant at this moment?
• Do provide hyperlinks as a way of signposting. For example, referencing a previous article we have published on a similar subject can be a subtle way of showing knowledge of our output.
• Talk about images if you have access to them, if they’re particularly good, or if you can think of where to get them from.
• Talk about yourself (briefly and last) – your key experience with some hyperlinks to previous work.
  You might mention why you are the right person to be producing this particular piece.

Pitches are discussed as part of our regular editorial meetings. You will typically get a response within two weeks.
If you haven’t heard from us in over two weeks, it is okay to send a follow-up email.

For access purposes, where possible we like to commission writers to submit the final drafts of written content as an audio file. We pay an extra fee for this.

For details of our guide to layouts and formatting of content please refer to our Style Guide (COMING SOON).
You’ll also find our latest payment rates for specific types of content here.

We look forward to receiving your pitches!