Kundiman (nonprofit organization)
Kundiman is a nonprofit organization which offers writing retreats, a reading series, a youth leadership intensive,[1] and a poetry prize, and is dedicated to providing "a safe yet rigorous space where Asian American poets can explore, through art, the unique challenges that face the new and ever changing diaspora."[2] Kundiman was co-founded in 2004[3] by Asian American poets Sarah Gambito and Joseph O. Legaspi,[4][5] and has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, University of Virginia, Asian American Arts Alliance’s (SOAR) Program, Philippine American Writers, PAWA, and individuals.[6]
Recently, Kundiman and Fordham University announced that they have formed an affiliation: Kundiman will "enhance the outreach of Fordham’s English Department," and Fordham will host the annual Kundiman Poetry Retreat on Fordham’s Rose Hill campus beginning in 2010, and host Kundiman-sponsored readings and events at the Lincoln Center Campus. Fordham will also provide a total of $60,000 over three years in financial support for Kundiman’s programs.[7]
According to the University of Virginia, which hosted Kundiman's inaugural writing retreat, "The organization’s name refers to a style of Filipino love song that served as veiled patriotism during colonial times."[8] According to Sarah Gambito, "Kundiman Fellows have published poems in The Virginia Quarterly Review,The Colorado Review, Pleiades, Black Warrior Review and Crab Orchard Review."[9] There have been over 180 books published by Kundiman fellows.[10]
Honors given by Kundiman include The Kundiman Poetry Prize, for a book by an Asian American poet at any stage in their career.[11] The winning manuscript is published by Tupelo Press,[12], and according to Kundiman, "is the only poetry prize dedicated to Asian American poets in the country."[13][14][15]
Kundiman Retreat
The Kundiman Retreat was started in 2004 by Sarah Gambito and Joseph O. Legaspi. The inaugural Retreat was hosted at the University of Virginia in 2004.[16] It now takes place at Fordham University.[17] Poet Duy Doan said of the Kundiman Retreat: "I would never be able to overemphasize the positive impact that the Kundiman retreats have had on me—writing, musing, connecting with other Asian–Pacific Islander American writers, being taken in by a richly talented and generous community."[18] Poet Chen Chen said that the Kundiman Retreat was "really magical and opened up my eyes to what was possible in the Asian American literary community."[19]
Some Kundiman fellows include:
- Fatimah Asghar
- Cathy Linh Che
- Chen Chen
- Duy Doan
- Zahir Janmohamed
- Hieu Minh Nguyen
- Sadia Shepard
- Ocean Vuong
- Jenny Xie[20]
See also
References
- ^ "Youth Leadership". Kundiman. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
- ^ Kundiman > Mission
- ^ "What is Kundiman?". Kundiman. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
- ^ Kundiman > People
- ^ Kundiman > Recent News > Press Release > Kundiman, Inc & Fordham University announce Partnership Agreement >
- ^ Kundiman > Sponsors
- ^ Kundiman > Recent News > Press Release > Kundiman, Inc & Fordham University announce Partnership Agreement >
- ^ University of Virginia > News > July 30, 2004 > First National Retreat For Asian-American Poets To Be Held At U.Va. Aug. 4-8
- ^ Asian-American Poetry > Saturday, March 28, 2009 > Kundiman - Letter from Executive Director Sarah Gambito
- ^ "fellowpublicationslist". Kundiman. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
- ^ "Prize". Kundiman. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ "Prize". Kundiman. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ Kundiman > Recent News Archived 2009-05-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Poets & Writers > G&A: The Contest Blog > Alice James Books and Kundiman Present Book Prize for Asian American Poets > July 14, 2009
- ^ Kundiman > Recent News > Press Release > Kundiman, Inc & Fordham University announce Partnership Agreement >
- ^ "What is Kundiman?". Kundiman. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ "Retreat". Kundiman. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ "Where Big Books Are Born: Duy Doan on the Kundiman Retreat". Poets & Writers. 2018-02-14. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ "Writing the Families We Want: An Interview with Chen Chen". Asian American Writers' Workshop. 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
- ^ "Fellows". Kundiman. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
External links
- 2002 establishments in New York (state)
- American poetry
- American writers' organizations
- Arts organizations based in New York City
- Arts organizations established in 2002
- Asian-American literature
- Asian-American organizations
- Culture of New York City
- Non-profit organizations based in New York (state)
- Organizations established in 2002
- Poetry organizations