Shoebox is a self-published, self-funded and independent magazine founded in 2024, dedicated to fostering open conversation and critical thinking through discussions on art and culture and their connection to social and political issues. 

Set firmly in the belief that no creative work is ever finished, Shoebox does not suggest itself to be a finished product, but is in perpetual accumulation, constantly rethinking, revisioning and retracing its steps in order to stay relevant and grow. Shoebox includes work in all stages of its development, offering contributors a space to share their ideas in a laid-back and inclusive format. 

Springing from an urgency to preserve, record and share the many ways people think, question, and engage with the world, Shoebox collects work guided by curiosity, aiming to give space to discussions beyond the confines of rigid hierarchies, gatekeeping and hoity-toity artspeak.

While primarily in English, Shoebox includes work in any language. By publishing original texts alongside an English translation, we aim to further facilitate an inclusive and accessible space that tackles language barriers and crosses our arbitrary borders.

In line with these commitments, all previous issues are available as free PDFs through the respective links below.

Shoebox Magazine is based in The Hague, partly in Stockholm and previously in Cairo. We operate within an international network on social media and in the cities we manoeuvre, reaching out through open calls and direct invitations.

Submissions to participate in coming issues of Shoebox Magazine are read on a rolling basis and sent to magazineshoebox@gmail.com. We aim to release three issues per year, with open calls for submissions being spread on our website, social media and across our immediate network.

We translate from Arabic and Swedish, and will collaborate with translators from other languages when needed to the best of our ability.

Printed in limited numbers, each original copy of Shoebox Magazine is bound by hand before being distributed in bookstores at events and privately.

You are free to reprint, distribute and share Shoebox Magazines in any way you like. Sales of all issues go to covering printing and paper costs. We are currently unable to pay contributors for published work.