About Us
Illumination is entirely managed by students that volunteer their time.
Established in 2004 by Adam Blackbourn, Illumination was created for the purpose of providing a beautiful space for undergraduate students of the University of Wisconsin-Madison to share their creative work.
Illumination publishes a print journal once a semester, showcasing fiction, poetry, essays, artwork, and in-depth exploration pieces on the Wisconsin Idea.
Illumination prints student work in an industry-quality publication— giving undergraduates a chance to share their work in a format that doesn’t take away from their creative talent.
Creative work deserves a place to shine.
Illumination is a space for students to share their work beyond the classroom and into the hands and minds of readers, both on campus and throughout the city of Madison. Every semester, we print 75o high-quality journals and distribute them in university buildings, libraries, coffee shops, and community centers.
Our community is incredible.
Madison is a city filled with people that dare to explore and challenge the limits of what the world can be. We want to connect the public with some of the incredible work that gets done at the University of Wisconsin and make them a part of the campus community by sharing creative student work in an approachable format. At a time when too many people doubt the benefit of a world-class education system, Illumination seeks to give back and show them exactly why it is a resource worth nurturing.
Money shouldn’t stop ideas.
We’re proud to offer Illumination to the general public for free. All costs associated with the publication are funded by a generous grant from the estate of Lemeul R. and Norma B. Boulware. This funding was dedicated to Illumination by former Chancellor John C. Wiley in 2008 and fully covers the production of Illumination. There is no cost to submit pieces or to read our publication.
We want the world to see this.
Illumination is a public good for the city, state, and the world at large. As a resource for creatives and leaders everywhere, Illumination seeks to expand our audience and share with an ever-growing readership.
Free of advertisements, full of style.
You shouldn’t be distracted by people trying to sell you things just to enjoy a good story. Due to the support of our generous partners, we’re able to offer all of our content in a ad-free experience. Nothing is monetized, everything is inspiring.