How are we collaborating on zine-making?

Art for Climate Resilience turns abstract climate risks into action-oriented community-engaged research workshops through social participatory art. The program's goal is to improve community health, climate literacy, and climate mental health to support disaster awareness and preparation for community resilience. Read more on our program page here.

Our program journey will close with an Art Showcase highlighting the artists, community members, community-based organizations, non-profit partners, and the impact of this work. Limited edition zines will be printed and distributed to community members and attendees. As an individual artist, RYN DEL PAPA, was awarded by the City of Houston’s City Initiative Art + Disaster Resilience Awareness grant in February 2025, which partly funded this program and was administered by Houston Arts Alliance. Current funding enabled us to pay artists, co-designers, and cover initial program costs to showcase this interdisciplinary community art program's impact.

Garden of Us Kickoff Event for the Art for Climate Resilience on April 19, 2025.

Why this zine matters?

Climate change is greatly impacting our external and internal environments, which is why 75% of youth worldwide say the future is frightening because of climate change. From youth worldwide to 63% of Texans worried about climate change, the impacts of climate change on our mental health are happening now. Under-resourced communities and marginalized populations will be impacted the most, yet what if instead of extractive practices and doom-and-gloom? We use the healing, evidence-based power of creative health to amplify communities, diverse minds, and sustainable leaders, shifting eco-anxiety to eco-action, for planetary health.

Zines can democratize access to research, expand creative storytelling, and have roots in social justice movements. By co-designing this zine to encapsulate this program's unique design and knowledge, we believe the zine will be a resource for equitable community engagement research, climate literacy knowledge, and culturally context-driven and community-focused storytelling.

• From April to October 2025 in Houston, Texas, co-learn with 200 community members through interactive interdisciplinary workshops, bridging environmental and mental health education through creativity to enhance green brain health and community resilience.

• Our ambitious goal is to distribute 100 zines -- a digital version will be accessible after the showcase in late 2025, expanding the knowledge, impact, and climate literacy of our community.

What are our program goals?

Artist Open Call

Join us to create artwork for an upcoming zine project.

Zine Design

Open Submission

Artists are invited to contribute to this exciting zine.

Creative Showcase

The zine publication will be displayed in an art showcase.

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Zine design refinement with Co-Designer.

What are we looking for?

What to expect?

Our invitation to artists is to create a one-page spread that relates to Houston's community. Submissions by artists within the Third and Fifth Ward will be prioritized, as this is a place-based, focused zine. Selected artworks will be published in the limited-edition printed zine and launched at the Art Showcase in October 2025, as well as shared, sold, and displayed at digital and physical galleries and zine retailers.

The open call is open from July 21st to September 1st.

Final selection will be made in September, with announcement by September 12th.

The artist will receive:

• A limited edition printed zine

• A poster of their selected artwork displayed at the Art Showcase (and gifted to them).

• Full attribution of their artwork and retained ownership and rights to their artwork.

• An honorarium of $100 for their selected artwork to be displayed within the zine.

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Zine Submission Guidelines

Size: Each page 8.5" x 11" vertical (1 pages total), 0.25" bleed on all sides

Format: Submit as PDF or high-res JPG, max file size 5 MB

Color Mode: CMYK only (for print optimization), no RGB

Resolution: Minimum 300 dpi

Style: Any 2D medium (illustration, photography, collage, graphic novel-style, digital art, etc.)

Artwork File Submission:

How do you apply?

Find the full submission guidelines and submission form coming soon.

The Art Showcase

We're celebrating the impact of community co-creation with the launch of the zine, artwork from workshop participants, and interdisciplinary artwork by RYN DEL PAPA & REIA. More details to come.

Sponsorship tiers and recognition:

• $100 — Listed on the website as a community supporter.

• $250 — Verbally acknowledged during the October public event.

• $400 — Logo or name featured on the printed event flyer distributed at the workshop.

• $1,000 — Logo or name included in the digital version of the zine.

• $2,000 — Receive a half-page sponsor spotlight in the printed and digital zine

• $3,000 — Receive a full-page ad or message in both zine formats + featured mention in Ryn Delpapa’s newsletter and social media, including potential partner distribution.

• $4,000+ — Recognized as a lead sponsor, with all benefits above plus a custom acknowledgement package.

Deadlines:

• Donate by September 1, 2025 to be listed in the printed zine and on the event flyer.

• Donate by September 30, 2025 to be acknowledged at the launch event and in digital materials

We’re actively seeking sponsors to help us expand the reach and impact of Art for Climate Resilience ahead of our Art Showcase event.

Your support will directly fund:

• Increased artist and organizer honoraria

• Printing additional zines for community distribution to expand the zine's availability.

• Accessibility materials, including large-print booklets, digital alt-text descriptions, and printed workshop guides for low-vision attendees.

• Targeted digital ads to promote the project and spotlight contributing artists.

Sponsorship