Runway Journal is an open-access digital publishing platform that commissions, cultivates and preserves experimental and critical writing practices.

Runway Journal is an open-access digital publication that commissions, cultivates and preserves experimental and critical writing practices. Established in 2002, Runway originally began initially as a hardcopy publication, and transitioned into digital-platform in 2012. Recognised as one of Australia’s longest-running artist-run initiatives, Runway remains committed to advancing the field of experimental digital art and fostering the practices of emerging and underrepresented voices.

Runway is powered by a voluntary-run board of artists and arts workers based across Australia. Operating collaboratively, board members have dedicated roles across development, digital production, design, strategy, editorial, communications, and engagement. The 2025 members are Ena Grozdanic and Athanasios Lazarou (Co-Chairs), Victoria Pham (Deputy Chair), Thomas Capogreco (Treasurer/Editor) Lou Garcia-Dolnik (Editor), Debris Facility (Secretary/Editor), Giana Festa (Digital Producer), Jayden Fischer (Digital Producer), Madeleine Martin (Editor), Yanti Peng (Digital Producer), Varsha Ramesh (Development and Engagement Coordinator), Anneka Scholtz (Editor), Myranda Thomas (Communications Coordinator) and Amy Yu (Digital Producer).

Each year, Runway announces an open call for board member positions, usually around October or November. Each board member serves a voluntary two-year term. During this time, the board engages in a collaborative structure that encourages team-work, circulatory knowledge and cross-skills development. We operate on a ‘1 seat–1 vote’ format and take an equitable and collaborative approach towards directing the organisation’s goals, activities and workflow.

Runway was established in 2002 by artists Matina Bourmas and Jaki Middleton, under the organisation name The Invisible Inc. Beginning its origin in print, Runway’s first edition Issue #1: EXCHANGE, was released as a zine-sized 40-page publication with black-and-white printed content. For the next series of Issues, the founders received seed funding as well as support from Firstdraft ARI, via shared board members and occasional office space. This enabled them to expand and restructure the format, and move to a full-colour publication in 2007 with Issue #9 CHANGE.

Launch events, podcasts, satellite projects and performances became a key part of each Issue’s development, with the introduction of guest editors to expand the publication’s knowledge, diversity and reach. During this period, The Invisible Inc. also created the The Invisible Reading Room, a portable zine library housed in a shipping container as part of Next Wave Festival (2006), curated exhibitions at PICA, Australia (2007) and Irish/Australian emerging video art show in Dublin, Ireland (2007).

The Invisible Inc. eventually became known as Runway Journal, and in 2012, Runway published its last printed edition Issue #22: SITE. In 2014, we transitioned to an open-access online platform, beginning with the first digital edition Issue #23: PROTOTYPE. The decision to cease our print production was made to create a more sustainable and accessible publication for readers, and to expand our audiences nationally and globally. In addition, the new digital platform allowed the organisation to become more responsive to new forms and currents, and allocate a significant proportion of its budget directly to commissioned artists, writers and curators.

Since 2019, Runway has published two themed digital issues annually. Each Issue is shaped by an invited Guest Editor and is produced in collaboration with the Runway board. Each Issue features newly-commissioned artistic, written and multidisciplinary works that champion critical, bold and experimental practice. 

In 2023, Runway will present one themed Issue, slated for release in October 2023. This strategic decision was made by the Co-Chairs and the board to allocate significant time towards improving digital access and revamping our website, as well as managing program operations, board upskilling, and succession planning for our organisation.

Runway has been running the Conversations platform since 2018, which is a commissioned series focused on responsive arts criticism. Published in an on-going capacity outside of our Issue lifecycle, the works featured include responsive exhibition reviews, artist profiles, essays, interviews and more.

Yes! Collegiality and collaboration are core values that inform Runway Journal’s program.

Since 2021, we partnered with Kudos at Arc Creative @ UNSW Art and Design to support their annual Emerging Awards. Each year, a nominated Runway Journal Editor serves as Guest Judge on the panel for the ‘Emerging Writer Award’ category. Previous Runway judges included June Miskell (2021), Yuna Lee (2022), and Georgia Hayward (2023).

In 2022, Bundanon Trust awarded Runway with a week-long creative residency to develop Issue #45: Asemic in collaboration with the Guest Editor and contributors. 

Across 2021– 2022, Runway partnered with All Conference and disorganising to publish texts focusing on the network of artist-led, experimental and cross-disciplinary arts organisations in Australia and internationally, including Liquid Architecture, Pari, Blindside, and Green Papaya.

For 2022 – 2023, we teamed up with Parallel Structures to produce Parallel Conversations to support twelve contributors to advance critical, bold and experimental thinking on ways of enacting structural change in Australian art institutions, with a focus on regional art museums and spaces. 

Other partnerships include the co-presentation of a 2024 publication with Arts House and Urban Theatre Projects, which will involve the dissemination of knowledge constellated by the participating artists of the Counterflows program, and The Bearded Tit across 2024.

From time to time, Runway also presents on-site and digital events, public programs, and industry events. If you are an organisation with values that align with Runway, please reach out to us at runway@runway.org.au to start a conversation about ways in which we could work together.

We are open to submissions during the callout period for Issues and accept expressions of interest for written, artistic, and multidisciplinary works that respond to thematic frameworks curated by Guest Editors. In 2023, our callout period will take place from April-May. Applications to Issues via callouts are reviewed by a selection committee that includes Runway’s board members and the Issue’s Guest Editor. Applications are evaluated based upon how well they address the selection criteria. At present, we are scheduling our Conversations and Parallel Conversations commissioning calendar, so we are taking any submissions currently. Join our mailing list here to stay informed on opportunities.

Each Guest Editor is selected by Runway Journal’s board via a collaborative process.  This process begins by inviting all Runway Journal board members to consider and nominate names of potential Guest Editors who they feel align with Runway’s ethics, vision, and values. Each of the names is discussed and the Guest Editor is collectively decided upon by the board, before a formal invitation is made to invite the Guest Editor for an upcoming Issue with enough lead time to formulate a curatorial framework and theme.

Easy! You can show Runway some love by donating. Your support helps our volunteer-run board to actively support the practices of emerging and under-represented artists by commissioning new work and sustaining operational costs associated with running our open-access journal. Over the past two decades, the Runway Journal has maintained an unwavering commitment to support artists, writers, and creatives through the collaborative development of new commissions, knowledge-sharing opportunities and professional development programs. 

Email us via runway@runway.org.au