Mandate

CUSS (Creative Undercurrents: Studies of the Social) is a journal of art and culture founded in December 2015 by Martin Poole, operating from Montreal, Quebec and St. John's, Newfoundland.

Working from the conviction that art and culture are inseparable, CUSS examines contemporary artworks, active artists, and the cultural conditions that shape them. We engage with galleries, artists, and anyone critically invested in the art scene—those making our personal and cultural assumptions visible, and those with something genuinely insightful to contribute. While we pay particular attention to independent artists, community-driven festivals, and alternative exhibitions, we exclude nothing on principle. Our scope encompasses all disciplines: music, literature, theatre, dance, visual arts, and beyond.

We're especially drawn to moments when ideas become action—when art enters public consciousness, when artists realize personal visions, when culture shifts in real time.

We're interested in the bigger picture of contemporary life. Why are underground venues thriving? Why do galleries resemble boutiques and boutiques resemble galleries? What constitutes contemporary art, and what shapes our understanding of it? How do politics and economics influence artistic ecosystems? Can art survive mass production?

We're seeking art writers within and beyond Canada.

Submit proposals through our contact form.