Pitching for Burum Collective 2026 is now open!

As we roll up to our 6th (!) year of running Burum Collective we are thrilled to say our inboxes are open again for commissions!

Last year we opened our inboxes for pitches to The Future of Cider, and we would like to further this project, making it bigger with more input from folk outside of the UK. As we ourselves figure out how our work and choices can support the cider industry we want to start a bigger, communal conversation on what is in store for the future of cider. What will cider making look like in 10, 50, 100 years time? What is needed to help preserve cider and what changes are required to ensure the cider community continues to grow? How will technology aid cider and how can tradition develop, what will be “traditional” in another century's time? Who does tradition serve and how does it change?  Will cider still look and taste the same if the wider drinks industry continues as it is?

Sounds like something you want to get involved in? Great! Here’s how:

Quickfire FAQ!

I have a pitch! Where do I send it? rachel@burumcollective.com

How long are pitches open? We will be accepting pitches until the 30th of June!

What should my pitch include? Your name, the best way to contact you, a brief description of the idea you have and some indication that you have read this page and know what Burum Collective is about.

Can I send in a pitch for visual work e.g. illustration? Yes! We are accepting pitches for visual work, send in your idea for the project and any relevant visuals or previous work to support your pitch

Do I need to have professional writing/illustrative experience to pitch? No! Consider this an active encouragement to pitch if you’ve always wanted to create something but never been sure how. We’ve been there and we know how daunting it can be, we promise to treat your ideas with the respect they deserve. 

I would love to pitch but I don’t want to be traced back to my place of work, is there an option for anonymous contributions? Absolutely, yes. Just let us know in your initial pitch. 

What are the rates? Written pieces of work will be up to 1000 words and paid £225

When will I hear back? Pitches close on the 30th of June and we promise to get back to everyone (with constructive feedback!) by mid July. Please be patient with us and please do not chase us for a response within this timeframe, you’ll just go to the back of the queue and to be honest we’ll be less likely to want to work with you. 

I haven’t worked in cider but I have lots of ideas, can I still pitch? Whilst we prefer some experience we will also take well researched and thought out ideas so, yes, take your chance, shoot your shot!

Writers: What to Pitch

We’re interested in any of our ideas that could relate to cider’s future whether it be via orchards, fruit, pubs and packaging formats. As always the weirder and more imaginative the better. They can take into account climate change, government policy, land ownership, pub demographics, labels, tasting notes or genetics. What is happening now that could affect cider in the future? What is a current trend that could shift into tradition? Who gets to make cider now and will that be the case in another two or three decades? How will taste evolve as the planet does? 

Writers: How to Pitch

Send an email to rachel@burumcollective with PITCH: The Future of Cider as the subject heading. Please include:

  • Your name

  • Your contact details

  • A little bit about you 

  • A brief description of the topic you would like to write about and the form you see it taking

  • Any other information you feel would be useful for us to know

We will get back to you by the 13th of July 2026

Rates, Timelines and Logistics

Written pieces of work will be max 1000 words and paid £225. All writers will be commissioned by the 30th June 2026. The deadline for written first drafts will be the 31st August 2026.

Please invoice alongside your first draft. All invoices will be paid within one month of being received. All written work will be edited by Rachel and any feedback/edits will be provided.

Publication is currently scheduled for Winter 2026. 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Helen & Rachel x