Two or three years ago, the poet Pablo Miguel Martinez of San Antonio, told me of a vision he had to gather Latino poets in retreat-style workshop geared toward and about Latino poetics, an area that he and others felt misunderstood. I am amazed and applaud the group for how swiftly and grand they pulled together their vision.
Dear Latina and Latino poets, We are inviting applications for the Inaugural CantoMundo Master Poetry Workshop, the only national, poetry-centered workshop/retreat specifically for Latina/o poets.Inspired by the culturally-rooted visions of Cave Canem and Kundiman, CantoMundo seeks to create a space where Latina/o poets can:
1. nurture and enhance their poetics;
2. lecture and learn about aspects of Latina/o poetics currently not being discussed by the mainstream poetry publishers and critics; and
3. network with peer poets to enrich and further disseminate Latina/o poetry.
CantoMundo MissionThrough workshops, symposia, and public readings, CantoMundo provides a space for the creation, documentation, and critical analysis of Latina/o poetry.
Description of the purpose of CantoMundoThe Inaugural CantoMundo Master Poetry Workshop is a three-day retreat that will develop, sustain, and support a diverse community of Latina/o poets.This year, CantoMundo will convene July 8-11, 2010, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Master Poets Martín Espada and Demetria Martínez will each teach a three-hour craft workshop. These workshops will center on a particular element of poetic craft that is of interest to the instructor. All participating poets will attend both workshops.
In addition to the workshops, a guest lecture and a craft lecture will be presented. Applicants are free to submit a proposal for a craft lecture to cover a topic of their choice.
CantoMundo also will include a reading and book-signing that will be open to the public.
The three-day retreat will culminate in a visioning session where participants will discuss and plan the subsequent CantoMundo gathering. All participants will be asked to provide input and volunteer time to this collaborative and cooperative resource for Latina/o poets.
CantoMundo would like to thank The Center for Mexican American Studies of The College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin for providing CantoMundo with financial support for its inaugural year.
A CantoMundo website is forthcoming!Page 2 Founding Committee Norma Cantú Pablo Miguel Martínez Celeste Guzman Mendoza Deborah Paredez Carmen Tafolla
Submission GuidelinesApplicants are encouraged to submit an application to participate in the Master Poet Craft Workshop as well as a separate proposal to present a craft lecture, if desired.
Master Poet Craft WorkshopsIf you are interested in applying to participate in the Master Poet craft workshops, please submit the following:1. Cover letter
(One page, single-spaced, 8½ x 11-sized paper, with 1-inch margins, 12- point Times New Roman font) - Include a. Contact Informationi. Name
ii. Address
iii. Phone Number
iv. Email
b. Brief history of previous publications and/or public readings/performances
c. Statement of commitment to CantoMundo vision
d. What you would like to gain from the CantoMundo retreat
2. Sample of writing (Five pages maximum, single-spaced, 8½ x 11-sized paper, with 1- inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font))
Criteria for Craft Workshop SelectionThe criteria are:a. a significant record of publishing in poetry (book-length manuscript, chapbook, major journals, etc.) and/or broad and accomplished experience in the performance of original poetry. Self-published work is excluded.
b. Self-identify as Latina/o
Lecture PresentationIf you are interested in presenting a lecture on or about Latina/o poetry or a poet’s work, please submit the following:1. Cover letter
(One page, single-spaced, 8½ x 11-sized paper, with 1-inch margins, 12- point Times New Roman font)- Include a. Contact Informationi. Name
ii. Address
iii. Phone Number
iv. Email
b. Brief history of previous lectures, publications and/or public readings/performances
c. Statement of commitment to CantoMundo vision
d. What you would like to gain from the CantoMundo retreat
2. Abstract for lecture (One page, single-spaced, 8½ x 11-sized paper, with 1-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font) Page 3 Founding Committee Norma Cantú Pablo Miguel Martínez Celeste Guzman Mendoza Deborah Paredez Carmen Tafolla Criteria for Lecture Selection
The criteria are:1. coherence, clarity, salience, and originality of lecture topic;
2. experience in presenting lectures and/or readings; and
3. self-identify as Latina/o.
The individual(s) who are chosen to present a craft lecture will be allowed to audit the craft workshop.
Formatting Directions for ApplicationsWordDocs onlyLetter-sized paper (8½ x 11), with 1-inch margins
12-point font, Times New Roman
Email the application packet(Cover Letter and Writing Sample and/or Abstract)
as a WordDoc attachment to:
Celeste Guzman Mendoza
ay_sisi@hotmail.comPlease put CANTOMUNDO APPLICATION in the heading or mail your packet
(Cover Letter and Writing Sample and/or Abstract) to:
Deborah Paredez
Associate Director
Center for Mexican American Studies
1 University Station F9200 WMB 5.102
Austin, Texas 78712
All applications must be received by 5 p.m. CST, Friday, March 19, 2010. Page 4 Founding Committee Norma Cantú Pablo Miguel Martínez Celeste Guzman Mendoza Deborah Paredez Carmen Tafolla Email applications are preferred.Participants will be notified no later than April 30, 2010 (via phone or email).If you have any questions, please write:Celeste Guzman Mendoza
ay_sisi@hotmail.com
CantoMundo is committed to including a collective of diverse poetic voices and styles, as well as representation from all Latina/o backgrounds.Costs
Tuition for three-day retreat: $100Each participant is responsible for her/his own per diem, travel and hotel costs.
Upon acceptance CantoMundo will provide information on discounted hotel rooms.
Tentative ScheduleDates: July 8-11, 2010Place: National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Thursday, July 8, 2010
7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Welcome Reception
Friday, July 9, 2010
10-11:15 a.m. Morning Lecture #1
11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch
1-4 p.m. Craft Workshops
Group A – Martín Espada
Group B – Demetria Martínez
Evening open for rest, writing, and reflection
Saturday, July 10, 2010
10-11:15 a.m. Morning Lecture #2
11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch
1-4 p.m. Craft Workshops
Group B – Martín Espada
Group A – Demetria Martínez
7 p.m. Public Reading and Booksigning Page 5 Founding Committee Norma Cantú Pablo Miguel Martínez Celeste Guzman Mendoza Deborah Paredez Carmen Tafolla