About Us

Co-founded in 2007, Mascara is a journal which focuses on the work of First Nations, CaLD, disabled and neurodivergent writers, as well as human rights and experimentation. We specialise in publishing platforms for minorities, focusing on cultural cohesion and participation. We foster a space for critical research to bridge the gaps left by institutions; a space for writers, readers and researchers that is progressive and vibrant. We are interested in shaping the way that discourse structures social realities and positions individuals hierarchically. The word ‘mascara’ entered the English language in 1890. But it derives from Spanish, Arabic and French origins, its meaning evolving from the word ‘mask’, ‘masquerade’, to darken, to blacken. The Arabic word ‘maskhara’ means buffoon, suggesting violence and play in the correspondences between life and art.

email: editor[at]mascarareview[dot]com Please do not use this address for submissions to the journal.
reviews: reviews[at]mascarareview[dot]com
submissions by email only: follow the guidelines for submission please

Editors

Artistic Director: Michelle Cahill
First Nations Editor: Beau Windon
Junior Commissioning Editor: Laura Pettenuzzo
Poetry Critic and Researcher: Katie Hansord
Emerging Critics 2024: A. D John, Nina Culley, Natalie Damjanovich-Napoleon
Non-fiction Critic: Adele Dumont
Literary Studies Critic: Sam Cox
Poetry and Prose Critic: Misbah Wolf
Poetry Critic: Ben Hession
Translations: Elif Sezen, Isabelle Li
Refugee Writing: Janet Galbraith
Postcolonial Studies: Paul Giffard-Foret
Asian Studies: Misbah Wolf, Emily Yu Zong, Megan Cheong
Graphic Designer: Duane Leewai
Layout and copy: Ashleigh Kelman

Advisory Board

LIONEL FOGARTY
TONY BIRCH
BRENDA SAUNDERS
VESNA GOLDSWORTHY
ELLEKE BOEHMER
SUDESH MISHRA
CYRIL WONG
WENCHE OMMUNDSEN
LUCY VALERIE GRAHAM
SNEJA GUNEW
DAVID L. ROGERS
CATHERINE COLE
KERI GLASTONBURY
JEE LEONG KOH

Web design
Mik Efford
Marlena Staas

Subscription

$40 for individuals for 12 months
$80 for individuals for 2 years
$20 for unwaged or students or concession for 12 months
$100 for institutions
Donations over $2 all tax deductible

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.

Mascara Literary Review gratefully acknowledges the support of Creative Australia, formerly The Australia Council for the Arts.

Mascara Literary Review Issues 2-10 were published with the assistance of The School of Humanities and Social Science, and The Writing Cultures Group of The University of Newcastle, Australia.

Disclaimer: The views expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Newcastle, Australia. The University makes no representation concerning, and does not guarantee the source, originality, accuracy, completeness or reliability of any statement, information, data, finding, interpretation, advice, opinion, or view presented.

Mascara Literary Review is archived by the National Library of Australia’s digital archive