There are a million and one pros to independent publishing. You have complete creative control, there are no boundaries in terms of the subject matter, and you get to do it just for the hell of it.

But the one big issue that stops many aspiring zine-makers is, of course, funding.

Komura;, a book fair slash collective that aims to uplift and create a space for independent artists, knows this issue all too well. This year, they’re opening their arms (and their budget) to help budding zine makers produce their work.

The Komura; Creators Grant aims to encourage “expectation-free experimentation and pure self-expression,” according to Warehouse Eight’s co-owner and Komura;’s co-founder Kayla Dionisio. “We want local creatives to know that there is a community who is interested in seeing their ideas come to life and is committed to providing tangible support,” she says. For this grant, they’re looking for pitches for a black and white zine.

Is the grant calling your name? We thought so. Here’s a low-down on all the mechanics for application:

Komura; Creators Grant is open to all Filipinos.
Entries must not have been previously published, and all entrants must warrant the originality of their submitted entries.
Writers may submit only one entry, in Filipino, English and other Philippine languages, which shall be of 5,000 words or less. This word limit is a strict and absolute limit. Even just one word above the limit will be enough to disqualify an entry.

That’s it! The theme for the grant is “alternative ways of being,” or a life free from oppressive systems like capitalism.

The winner of the grant will get 12,000 pesos to produce their pitch, plus a one-month pass to work at Warehouse Eight and a zine loot courtesy of Kwago.

Ready to strip it down to the basics of radical zinemaking? You can check out the full deets and submit your entry here. Happy zinemaking, creators!

Photo by Patrick Segovia