What is a Zine?

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What is a Zine? 〰️

 

An example of nature and science zines from various creators/artists

A zine (short for magazine) is typically a small, handcrafted publication made by an individual or group that can take many creative forms and be about any subject.

 

In 2026, Sageland Collaborative will be debuting our new collection of Community Science Zines at Grid Zine Fest and other tabling events around the state! We’re aiming to find new ways to connect with our community through art and storytelling.

We’re inviting YOU to join us in creating zines that celebrate your unique experiences on our community science projects. We will be selecting 5 zines (1 per project) to publish and distribute at Grid Zine Fest alongside our work.

Sageland Collaborative’s Riverscape Restoration Zine, created by Frances Ngo

Submission Guidelines & Timeline

  • One submission per person

  • Your zine must be related to one of Sageland’s community science projects

    • We encourage all types of creative approaches; your zine could be a photo collage of birds from a shorebird survey, doodles of toads, or screenshots of silly comments while uploading bumblebee pics in iNaturalist! Your imagination is the limit, so dream big!

  • Accepted dimensions:

    • Booklet: 4.25 inches x 5.5 inches (page count in multiples of 4)

    • One-page zine: 8.25 inches x 11 inches (1 sheet of regular printer paper)

    • File submitted as a single PDF

  • Zines must include:

    • Artist name

    • Sageland Collaborative’s logo (download here)

      • Note: you may alter the color to fit your design.

    • Optional: Artist website/social media

  • Prizes: Sageland Collaborative will cover the costs to publish 5 winning zines (1 per project), and winners will receive (5) copies of their zine and a Sageland Collaborative t-shirt.

    We’ll share and recognize other submissions on our social media, emails, blog, and other communications.

Submission Deadline: February 19, 2026

Acceptance Emails Sent: February 26, 2026

Winning zines will be published and distributed for FREE at Sageland Collaborative’s table at Grid Zine Fest on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Admission is free and we hope to see you there!

Reach out to Frances Ngo at frances@sagelandcollaborative.org with any questions!

Submit my work

Need resources or inspiration?
The Salt Lake City Public Library’s Creative Lab has many great resources for zine-making, including free access to software, tools, and community craft nights. The Main Library branch also features a large collection of community zines you can peruse to draw inspiration.