Programs

The Inlandia Institute has five core programs through which it fulfills its mission. The Institute also undertakes special projects from time to time, and we enter relationships with other organizations and agencies with compatible missions to facilitate, sustain and expand the literary arts throughout the region.

Publications
Inlandia Institute is home to the Inlandia Books Literary and Community imprints. In addition, Inlandia is home to the Hillary Gravendyk Prize, which publishes two titles each year as National and Regional winners. Inlandia has also just established the Eliud Martínez Prize for New Writers, an annual prize for a prose manuscript by an unpublished Hispanic, Chicana/o/x, or Latino/a/x author. Visit the Books tab to learn more.

Free Public Events
Inlandia Institute sponsors a variety of free public literary and cultural events. These include author readings & book signings, exhibitions, films, and discussions with esteemed community leaders, authors, and artists with deep ties to Inlandia. During the pandemic, we have offered a series of virtual events, Inlandia at Home. Other event series include Celebrating Cultura in partnership with the Riverside Art Museum and The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture, Conversations at the Culver at UCR Arts, and Inlandia at Arts Walk at the Riverside Public Library.

Additionally, the Blacklandia events series was initiated in response to the May 25, 2020 murder of George Floyd at the hands of the police. As an organization centered around the power of words, one that values speaking up, and speaking out, Inlandia made a renewed and public commitment to providing a space for people in the Black community to come together. These events are curated by a Black-led Black voices steering committee.

Inlandia Literary Laureate
The Inlandia Literary Laureate award is the first such recognition in Inland Southern California. Laureates are appointed for a two-year term and receive a $5000 stipend. Nominations open every two years.

In addition, in 2021, in partnership with Riverside County Office of Education, we have now initiated an annual Teen Poet Laureate. Currently this is open to all teens residing anywhere in Riverside County. In future, we hope to expand to other counties as well.

Literary Professional Development
Workshops and seminars encourage and support emerging writers in meeting their literary goals. Programs include the Inlandia Creative Writing Workshops held throughout the region, the Indie Authors Fair, and Boot Camp for Writers seminars. Workshops are led by accomplished authors, editors and educators.

Creative Literacy for Children
The Inlandia Institute sponsors school-based curriculum and literary events that help educators maximize children’s creative potential, critical thinking skills, and critical verbal literacy. Sponsored youth creative literacy programs include Adopt-a-School at Bryant School of Art & Innovation and the Children’s Poetry Theater, developed in partnership with the former State and United States Poet Laureate, Juan Felipe Herrera.