New literary magazine INQUE to feature Adichie, Lethem and Tempest

A new annual literary magazine, INQUE, is being launched by Port Magazine publisher and Granta editor Dan Crowe and the New York Times Magazine's former art director Matt Willey, with a host of stellar contributors. Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie, Joyce Carol Oates, Kate Tempest and Tom Waits are among those lined up for the magazine's first issue.

There will only be 10 issues of the large-format print magazine, at a rate of one per year and with a limited print run. The first issue will be published next year and thereafter until 2030. Dedicated "to commissioning and publishing diverse global writing next to extraordinary art, design and photography, with an editorial remit to be creatively groundbreaking", it is intended to be ad-free to ensure editorial and creative independence.

Simon Prosser, publishing director of Hamish Hamilton and Penguin Books, Dialogue Books publisher and founder Sharmaine Lovegrove, author Hanif Kureishi and Pulitzer-winning New York Times writer Wesley Morris form an editorial board advising on each issue. 

Crowe said: "It is a 10-year creative document, an ad-free hybrid magazine set to the rhythm of its time, showcasing new talent alongside living icons and commenting on what will be an extraordinary decade."

The launch issue will be released next year and also promises contributions from the likes of Samuel L Jackson, Brian Eno, Ben Lerner, Tilda Swinton, Catherine Lacey, Ben Okri, Werner Herzog, Ocean Vuong, Ben Marcus and Naoise Dolan, among others.

Meanwhile, signed up for the full decade, American author Jonathan Lethem has undertaken to write a new novel over the course of the 10 issues of INQUE, one chapter per issue. 

Also contributing to the launch are photographers Jack Davison and Christopher Anderson while other leading artists and photographers are expected to impart "original" artwork in special issues. The format for the magazine is large at 350mm x 280mm.

The magazine's creators said they wanted "to bypass the creative restrictions that come with advertising revenue streams" and are "eager to tap into an unprecedented explosion of extraordinary global writing" – factors that have been influential in the calibre of contributors INQUE has managed to attract.

"Creating a limit of 10 issues has been quite appealing [to contributors], it's almost like an art project, and people have also liked the idea that there wasn't going to be any advertising," said Crowe. "I think that's key, because it can limit editorial freedom. In a way, there not being a digital version of the magazine [has also been appealing]; it's this getting back to basics to produce a beautiful, physical book-like magazine. The hybridity of it is another factor and the fact there will be a lot of collaboration. It's getting back to fundamentals. The internet's great but it is relentless. There is something quite pleasing about trying to slow it down. If people want to check INQUE out, they really are going to have to buy a copy, because it won't be online, and that in a way will be quite cool when there are quite mega people involved, like Kate Tempest or Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie."

A Kickstarter project launched on 21st July with the aim of raising £150,000 to get the first issue off the ground by October 2021. Through Kickstarter £45 will give those interested in subscribing the launch issue (r.r.p. £55). There is also an option to buy issues containing special collector artworks for £145 (only 500 of these are available). The magazine will then be "self-sustaining" for the remaining nine issues.

Further details can be found at inquemag.com, and the Kickstarter is now live.