THE NEXT THEME OF CROSS-COVER IS:
RE-FORM
Take part!
RE-FORM
Re-form - open call
Re-form
What must we exceed? What must we preserve? Where do we find the balance between tradition and innovation, stability and experimentation? Which is more important: the careful construction of forms or their cathartic dissolution? How many substitutions can the Ship of Theseus survive?
We define ‘form’ as the inherent shape, arrangement or structure of something.
Everything that surrounds us is self evident in its shape or form. Eyes, faces, the surface of our own curved bodies. The streamlined silhouette of a car, streets, public spaces, storefronts, banners, myriads of carefully designed screens and sigils. File formats, shows, roles, genres, political parties and in-groups, conventions and societal rules.
The human condition is beset by carefully constructed material and ideal mechanisms, which define our scope of action. We use rationalised proportions, graphs, waves, spectra, sets and pyramidal structures to give form to our society’s commotion. We rely on inherited rituals and customs to breathe colour into the monotony of everyday life.
We instinctually seek out patterns, rhythms and structures: forms.
But what happens when familiar structures become too tight and uncomfortable? How can we question and bend our social, cultural and personal frameworks, so that we may break free from them? And what path should we take with the newfound freedom laid in our hands?
Our relationship to “form” is complicated and ever-changing: we are forged in dialogue with our environment and social surroundings. One day we wish to conform to the moulds the societal conveyor belt imposes on us; another day we may find solace in breaking with these conventions as we try to assert our own identities. We walk the tightrope of conformity and rebellion in search of our true selves.
But what is there to do when we ourselves fall apart? How can we pick up the pieces and put them back together? How do we regain control, if not over our lives, but over our independent, autonomous forms?
Who can submit?
In short: anyone. We want to bring fresh air into Hungarian cultural life. We have two goals:
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To give a platform to young creators to showcase their work.
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To build a creative, active, and inspiring community.
What can you submit and how?
We accept submissions in two main categories:
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Written works
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Artistic creations
Your writing can be in any existing, coherent style (except hate speech). Your art can be in any medium.
Please submit your work via the Google form on our website [link]. Please note: We only accept application through the link!
Before submitting, read the submission guidelines carefully and make sure your work meets all the listed criteria.
You may submit as many works as you'd like, but remember: quality over quantity.
If you're submitting multiple distinct pieces, please fill out the form separately for each one.
Deadline
August 16, 2026.
Submission Criteria –
Written Works
Maximum character count: 8000 characters
Language: Hungarian/English
Title: your work should not be titled ‘Re-form’!
Lead: All texts must have a short, enticing beginning
Argumentation: if your work includes argumentative segments, be sure to include references to support all your non-trivial claims.
Referencing: All references, sources and pictures included in your work should be listed in a Chicago Author-Date format.
Illustrations: Pictures should be uploaded in CMYK format in 300dpi. All pictures should be legally available, meaning a) you have written permission from the artist; b) the artist has been dead for 70+ years; c) you are the artist; d) the picture is in the public domain.
File naming: All uploaded files should be named in the following way: surname_firstname_written_title / surname_firstname_written_number_of_illustration.
Abstract: Please upload a short abstract about your text summarizing its content, its genre, specify if it includes argumentation, if so, specify your conclusion(s). This is crucial, so that our editors are aware of what you wanted to achieve and can stay true to your original intentions during the editing process.
Authorship: You should be the author of the text you upload. You must acknowledge the ideas of others through the format specified above (Chicago Author-Date). In the case of plagiarism, all further writings of the culprit will be disqualified from the magazine. We want to hear from you, not from AI.
Technical Language: not all readers are familiar with technical expressions to your specific field. Please use common expressions that are understandable to people outside of your discipline, or explain technical terms using footnotes. Our magazine aims to break down barriers to democratize art and free expression.
First Publication: Please only submit works you have not published anywhere else. If you want to submit schoolwork, please actualize the text to fit the given theme of the magazine.
Submission Criteria –
Artistic Works
Formal requirements: Artworks must be submitted in CMYK format in 300ppi resolution.
Other: If you want to submit an artwork that uses unconventional formatting, do not hesitate to reach out to us by email.
Title: All artworks must have a title that can feature in the magazine’s table of contents. The title must not be ‘Re-form’.
File Naming: All uploaded files must be named in the following way: surname_firstname_name_and_number_of_work (numbers must be included in the case of a series)
Quantity/Quality: There is no maximum amount of pictures you can upload, however, we trust that you prioritize the quality of your work. We do not publish portfolios.
AI: We DO NOT support the use of artificial intelligence.
Copyright: If you utilize the work of other artists to create your own artwork, make sure that the given material is in the public domain; or obtain written consent from the artist.
Abstract: For visual artworks, please submit abstracts of up to 1,200 characters, preferably written in the first person singular or plural.
In order for your work to be published in our magazine, we need to sign a short contract - yes, it's frustrating for us to have to deal with legal texts. The contract essentially states two things:
1) we can use the work you submit;
2) the copyright of your work remains yours, it is considered your intellectual property.
The agreement is a PDF.
After submission
Editorial process
The editors of Kereszthuzat are responsible for selecting quality and relevant work for publication.
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For artworks, the editorial board will jointly decide what gets printed.
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For written submissions, each text is reviewed by at least two editors.
You will receive detailed initial feedback with potential edits or suggestions.
To help us interpret your work with your intentions in mind, please include the short explanatory note mentioned in the written criteria.
We strive to request only objectively necessary edits.
What happens after you submit
From August 23, our editors will begin reviewing the submissions.
Submitting your work does not guarantee publication.
We respect every creator’s work and make no decisions over anyone’s head. If necessary, we may request certain changes—please approach the editorial process with flexibility.
The final published version is usually the result of multiple collaborative rounds.
We will let you know by mid/late September whether your work will be included in the issue.
Capacities and opportunities
Submitting a piece does not guarantee publication.
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Our budget is small and we can’t print unlimited pages.
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We work entirely unpaid and our time is limited.
This is also why deadlines are strict. -
We must make selections not every work is ready for print.
We do our best to assess everything as objectively as possible.
Please approach these constraints with understanding.
We want to give as many of you a platform as possible but our resources are limited.
Questions
We’re curious to see what “Re-form” means to you.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out: kereszthuzat.kollektiva@gmail.com