HOUSTON, TX—With an eye to the future, Arte Público Press has promoted Executive Editor Dr. Gabriela Baeza Ventura to deputy director in what Director Nicolás Kanellos called “a long-overdue recognition of her dedication and commitment to the work of Hispanic writers.” Baeza Ventura began working for the press as a research assistant while studying for her doctorate in Spanish at the University of Houston, which she completed in 2001. Now an associate professor of US Latino literature, she became the full-time managing editor in 1999 and executive editor in 2000. “This is such an honor,” Baeza Ventura said of her promotion. “Having worked closely with Dr. Kanellos for many years, I look forward to continuing Arte Público’s mission to promote Latino literature and expand community outreach through our various publications and programming.” In addition to overseeing the editing of Arte Público’s publications, Baeza Ventura has translated over 50 picture books …
A Rare Gem in the City: Publisher Named Houston Cultural Treasure
HOUSTON, TX—Arte Público Press, the nation’s oldest and largest publisher of US Hispanic literature, has been named one of eleven Houston Cultural Treasures by the BIPOC Arts Network & Fund (BANF). The acknowledgement of the press’ importance comes with $500,000 in general operating support over a two-year period and additional funds for technical support. Dr. Nicolás Kanellos, the founder and director of Arte Público Press, said, “We are tremendously honored by this recognition. Arte Público has suffered from being one of Houston’s best-kept secrets, and we feel certain this opportunity will empower us to continue our efforts to help the community, its art and culture.” The Houston Cultural Treasures initiative invests in the arts organizations that have anchored Houston’s communities of color and shaped the city’s dynamic and diverse culture, benefiting current arts groups. It is part of a larger national project sponsored by the Ford Foundation to honor the …
2023-24 Graduate Research Fellows
University of Houston Graduate Research Fellows at Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage (Recovery) work closely with archival texts, such as periodicals, manuscripts, photographs, albums, correspondence, books, ephemera and other documents. In doing so, they gain valuable experience with archival collections and asset management. The US Latino Digital Humanities Program (USLDH) at Recovery provides training in digital tools and students contribute to digital humanities data and projects. They have the opportunity to learn the following skills: Scanning of archival items Microfilm scanning Handling and preserving archival texts Inventory of primary documents Organizing collections Creating finding aids Curating exhibits Database research Primary document research Asset management Data management (with spreadsheets) Metadata creation Metadata translation Familiarity with Library of Congress Subject Headings E-book editing and translation (APP Digital) Digital archives (Omeka) Digital tools (mapping, timelines, digital collections, OpenRefine) Archival theory Digital humanities theory Academic conference presentations Academic conference posters Planning an academic …
Arte Público Press presentará al astronauta y proyectará su película en UH
HOUSTON, TX—El astronauta y autor de libros infantiles José M. Hernández conversará con el público que asista a la proyección de la nueva película de Amazon Studios, A Million Miles Away. La cinta se presentará en el Student Center South Theatre de la Universidad de Houston (4455 University Dr., Houston, TX 77204), el viernes 27 de octubre, de 5 a 8:15 p.m. Inspirada en la vida real del ingeniero de vuelo de la NASA, José M. Hernández, A Million Miles Away cuenta la historia de una devota familia de orgullosos trabajadores agrícolas migrantes en un viaje de décadas, desde una aldea rural en Michoacán, México, a los campos del Valle de San Joaquín, California, y de allí, a más de 200 millas de la Tierra, en la Estación Espacial Internacional. Con el apoyo incondicional de sus padres, familiares y maestros, el impulso y la determinación de José lo llevaron a …
Arte Público Press to Host Astronaut and Screen Film at UH
HOUSTON, TX—Astronaut and children’s book author José M. Hernández will speak at a screening of the new Amazon film about his life, A Million Miles Away, which will be shown at the University of Houston in the Student Center South Theater (4455 University Dr., Houston, TX 77204) on Friday, October 27, from 5-8:15 pm. Inspired by the real-life story of NASA flight engineer José M. Hernández, A Million Miles Away follows him and his devoted family of proud migrant farm workers on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station. With the unwavering support of his hard-working parents, relatives and teachers, José’s unrelenting drive and determination culminates in the opportunity to achieve his seemingly impossible goal. Acclaimed writer and director Alejandra Márquez Abella has created a dazzling …
Society of American Archivists Foundation Awards Arte Público Press a Strategic Growth grant
The Society of American Archivists (SAA) Foundation awarded the University of Houston’s (UH) Arte Público Press a Strategic Growth grant to support a Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage (Recovery) community archiving event to preserve local US Latino history. Through this activity, community members will learn how to preserve their archives, be able to scan items on site, learn how to donate their collections (post-custodial or otherwise) and browse a pop-up exhibit that showcases local collections and digital projects. This event builds on previous public activities, such as “Nuestra Historia: Alonso S. Perales Exhibit” (2019) and Community Archiving Day (2022). The latter resulted in the preservation of 7 family collections and the start of a community map that documents the presence of historical Latino business in Houston. “During Community Archiving Day, we made valuable connections in the neighborhood, feedback was positive, our students experienced community engagement firsthand, and we put …
2023 Summer Interns
Interns at Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage (Recovery) and the US Latino Digital Humanities Center (USLDH) at Arte Público Press work closely with archival texts, such as periodicals, manuscripts, photographs, albums, correspondence, books, ephemera and other documents. In doing so, they gain valuable experience with archival collections and asset management. The USLDH Center provides training in digital tools and students contribute to digital humanities data and projects. They have the opportunity to learn the following skills: Scanning of archival items Microfilm scanning Handling and preserving archival texts Inventory of primary documents Organizing collections Creating finding aids Curating exhibits Database research Primary document research Asset management Data management (with spreadsheets) Metadata creation Metadata translation Familiarity with Library of Congress Subject Headings E-book editing and translation (APP Digital) Digital archives (Omeka) Digital tools (mapping, timelines, digital collections, OpenRefine) Archival theory Digital humanities theory Academic conference presentations Academic conference posters Planning an …
Call for Submissions: Children’s Book Awards Support Latino Authors
HOUSTON, TX—Generations of Hispanic children in US schools had to do without books reflecting their culture and heritage. In 2022, according to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, only 351 of the 3,173 children’s books published in the United States were written by Latinos (11.06%); only 231 were about Latinos (7.28%). To fill that gap, Arte Público Press is accepting children’s book manuscripts to be considered for two awards: the Salinas de Alba Award for Latino Children’s Literature and the Reyes-Olivas Award for Best First Book of Latino Children’s and Young Adult Literature. Both seek to stimulate the work begun by Arte Público Press and its imprint, Piñata Books, which is dedicated to the publication of children’s and young adult literature that realistically portrays themes, characters and customs unique to US Hispanic culture. In addition to the publication of the book and royalties from sales, the winning authors will receive a …
Children’s Book Celebrating Nature Wins Prize
HOUSTON, TX—A trilingual picture book about the earth we inhabit, Tierra, Tierrita / Earth, Little Earth by Jorge Argueta (ISBN 978-1-55885-967-8, hardcover, $18.95), is the winner of the 2023 Salinas de Alba Award for Latino Children’s Literature. Published May 31, 2023, this stirring story celebrating Mother Earth reflects the author’s indigenous roots and appreciation for the natural world. According to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, just 351 of the 3,173 children’s books it received that were published in the United States in 2022 were written by Latinos; only 231 were about Latinos. The Salinas de Alba Award seeks to stimulate the work begun by Arte Público Press and its imprint, Piñata Books, which is dedicated to the publication of children’s and young adult literature that authentically and realistically portrays themes, characters and customs unique to US Hispanic culture. In addition to the publication of the book and royalties from sales, …
Documenting Discrimination: Alonso S. Perales Correspondence (1927-1952)
The University of Houston’s US Latino Digital Humanities Center (USLDH) announces the release of “Documenting Discrimination: Alonso S. Perales Correspondence (1927-1952).” This digital collection compiles letters written to and by Alonso S. Perales (1898-1960), a Mexican-American lawyer, diplomat, civil rights activist and co-founder of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Perales, in his mission for social justice, encouraged the Latino community to submit their experiences of discrimination at public establishments. Community members signed affidavits and wrote letters to Perales that detailed racism faced at restaurants, theaters, schools, bars, dance halls, clinics and many other places. They also wrote about the prejudice encountered while seeking employment or purchasing homes. Perales later published many of these letters and affidavits in his book, Are We Good Neighbors? (1948). Two undergraduates contributed to this collection: Cynthia Díaz, a Leadership Rice Mentorship Experience (LRME) summer intern at Rice University and Cruz E. Almonaci, …
