“The Summer we Remember” – Arts to Hearts Magazine : Issue 14
Every issue of Arts to Hearts Magazine begins with a single question: What kind of conversation do we want artists from around the world to have together? Our team carefully considers each theme, knowing it will inspire hundreds of artists, each bringing their own experiences, perspectives, and creative voice to the page. For Issue 14, we chose a theme that is both deeply personal and beautifully universal: The Summer We Remember.
From the very beginning, we knew no two artists would interpret it in the same way. Ask one hundred people about the summer they remember most, and you’ll hear one hundred completely different stories. Some will think of carefree childhood days and golden evenings, while others will remember first love, a life-changing journey, a quiet loss, a family tradition, or a moment that forever changed the course of their lives.
That endless range of possibilities is exactly what drew us to this theme. Rather than focusing on a season alone, The Summer We Remember opens the door to memory, emotion, and personal storytelling. It invites artists to revisit the moments that continue to shape them and transform those experiences into work that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Our hope is to bring together an issue filled with diverse perspectives, reminding us that while we may all experience summer, no two people ever remember it in quite the same way.
About Arts to Hearts Magazine
Arts to Hearts Magazine is a celebration of creativity, connection, and the stories artists tell through their work. Since its launch, it has grown into an internationally recognized publication that brings together emerging and established artists from around the world, creating a space where diverse perspectives and artistic voices can be discovered, appreciated, and shared.
Over the past thirteen editions, the magazine has proudly featured the work of more than 1,000 artists, showcasing an incredible range of mediums, styles, and creative practices. While its roots lie in championing women artists, Arts to Hearts Magazine has evolved into an inclusive platform that welcomes artists of all genders, backgrounds, and disciplines, united by a shared passion for meaningful artistic expression.
Distributed internationally through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and global distribution partners, the magazine places artists’ work before a worldwide audience of collectors, curators, galleries, and art enthusiasts. Every issue is thoughtfully curated to celebrate not only exceptional art but also the stories, ideas, and creative journeys behind it.
More than a publication, Arts to Hearts Magazine is a growing creative community and a lasting archive of contemporary artistic voices. It is a place where artists gain visibility, readers discover new perspectives, and meaningful connections are built through the universal language of art.
The Summer We Remember: The Theme of Issue 14
At its heart, The Summer We Remember is an invitation to reflect on the moments that stay with us. Some memories remain vivid and joyful, while others soften with time, returning through a familiar scent, a place, an old photograph, or a feeling we never quite forget. This theme welcomes every one of those memories.
For some artists, the summer they remember may be filled with laughter, long afternoons, and endless skies. For others, it may represent change, healing, heartbreak, distance, or the beginning of an entirely new chapter. It could be a season spent with loved ones, a journey that changed everything, a place that still feels like home, or even a memory that exists somewhere between reality and imagination.
That openness is what makes this theme so exciting. It doesn’t ask artists to paint summer in a literal sense. Instead, it encourages them to explore what summer represents in their own lives. A memory can be joyful or bittersweet, crystal clear or beautifully fragmented. Every interpretation is equally meaningful because every artist carries a different story.
Summer and nostalgia have long been intertwined, shaping not only the memories we carry but also the stories we choose to tell. Few writers capture that feeling more beautifully than John Steinbeck in East of Eden, where he writes:
“I remember my childhood names for grasses and secret flowers. I remember where a toad may live and what time the birds awaken in the summer… The memory of odors is very rich.”
Whether expressed through painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, illustration, ceramics, mixed media, or another creative practice, The Summer We Remember invites artists to transform those personal memories into visual narratives that linger long after the season itself has passed.
A Theme Open to Endless Interpretation
What makes The Summer We Remember so compelling is that it offers no single definition or expected outcome. Instead of asking artists to fit within a particular style or subject, it invites them to explore the memories, emotions, and experiences that feel most authentic to them. The result is a theme that is as expansive as the artists interpreting it.
For one artist, it may become a reflection on childhood, filled with long afternoons, familiar places, and moments of carefree joy. For another, it may tell the story of a life-changing journey, a farewell, a personal transformation, or a season of healing. Some artists may choose to capture a specific moment in time, while others may create work inspired by a feeling that has stayed with them long after the memory itself has faded.
The beauty of this theme lies in its openness. It welcomes realistic and abstract interpretations, intimate personal narratives and imagined worlds, quiet reflections and bold visual statements. Every perspective adds something new to the conversation, proving that while we may all remember a summer, no two stories will ever be the same.
That is exactly what we hope to see in Issue 14, a collection of artworks that are connected by a shared theme, yet shaped entirely by the unique memories, voices, and creative visions of the artists behind them.
Who Can Submit?
At Arts to Hearts, we believe creativity knows no boundaries. That’s why Arts to Hearts Magazine welcomes artists from around the world, celebrating diverse perspectives, experiences, and creative voices through every edition.
Whether you’re taking your first step into the art world or have spent years building your practice, this open call is for you.
- Open Worldwide: Artists of all nationalities, backgrounds, and lived experiences are encouraged to apply.
- Age Requirement: Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. There is no upper age limit because we believe creativity can flourish at every stage of life.
- Accepted Mediums: We welcome work across painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, printmaking, digital art, collage, textile art, mixed media, installation, illustration, and other forms of creative expression.
- Career Stage: Whether you’re an emerging artist, self-taught creative, returning to your practice, mid-career, or an established professional, your work and perspective matter.
- No Experience Required: There are no requirements for previous exhibitions, publications, awards, or professional experience. If you have work you believe deserves to be seen, we’d love to discover it.
At its heart, Arts to Hearts Magazine is about creating opportunities for artists to be seen, celebrated, and connected with a global creative community. If this theme speaks to you, we invite you to share your story with us.
What Awaits you
Being part of Arts to Hearts Magazine is about more than seeing your work in print. It’s an opportunity to gain international visibility, celebrate your artistic journey, and join a growing community of creatives from around the world. Whether you’re selected for publication or recognized among the top award recipients, every opportunity is designed to honor your work and the story behind it.
The overall winner will receive a $500 USD cash prize, a four-page editorial feature, a customized trophy, and a certificate of recognition. The first and second runners-up will also be celebrated with four-page editorial features, customized trophies, certificates, and official recognition for their achievements.
Selected artists will be featured in Arts to Hearts Magazine with a dedicated two-page spread, reaching readers worldwide through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and international distribution partners, along with receiving a custom digital certificate. Every artist who submits will also receive a certificate of participation, celebrating the courage and commitment it takes to share your work with the world.
Apply Before the Deadline
Submissions for Arts to Hearts Magazine Issue 14: The Summer We Remember are open until August 2, 2026. We encourage artists to submit their work early and take this opportunity to become part of an international publication that celebrates diverse creative voices from around the world.
Whether you’re submitting a single artwork or a collection that reflects your creative journey, we look forward to discovering your unique interpretation of this year’s theme. Every submission adds a new perspective to the conversation, and your work could become part of the next edition of Arts to Hearts Magazine.
Let Your Summer Be Remembered
Every unforgettable artwork begins with something deeply personal, a memory that lingers, a feeling that refuses to fade, or a moment that continues to shape the way we see the world. The Summer We Remember is an invitation to revisit those moments and transform them into something others can experience through your art.
We can’t wait to see the stories, emotions, and perspectives that this theme inspires. Whether your summer is remembered through light or longing, familiar places or imagined worlds, quiet reflections or bold expressions, your voice has a place in this conversation. We invite you to share your work, become part of Arts to Hearts Magazine Issue 14, and help create a collection of memories that will continue to inspire readers long after the season has passed.
Submissions close on August 2, 2026. Don’t wait until the last moment to share your work. If The Summer We Remember speaks to you, we invite you to submit your artwork and become part of the next chapter of Arts to Hearts Magazine.
