The Los Angeles Public Library proudly presents “Songs of the Earth,” a festival dedicated to celebrating languages. Los Angeles is home to over 200 languages spoken, and this event seeks to raise awareness and show support for indigenous peoples and their languages, focusing on local communities while embracing a global perspective. The festival’s launch aligns with UNESCO’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), highlighting the urgent need to preserve linguistic diversity amid threats of language loss, with around 3,000 languages facing extinction by the end of the century.
Indigenous languages thrive and significantly contribute to Los Angeles’ cultural landscape. We aim to establish a dedicated day celebrating these languages, emphasizing their presence and vitality within our local communities rather than distant places. Through “Songs of the Earth,” we strive to enhance engagement and foster connections among speakers of Indigenous languages across the city.
As part of this festival, we invite community members to submit poems and writings for a multilingual booklet printed by the Los Angeles Public Library. Our goal is to celebrate the diversity, richness, and resilience of living languages in Los Angeles.
Submission Requirements:
- Submissions must be original.
- Poetry should not be longer than 40 lines.
- Prose pieces should not be more than 500 words.
- All submissions in languages other than English or Spanish should also include a translation into English or Spanish.
- Include a brief bio and your email address.
- Deadline for submissions: September 9, 2024.
Please submit any questions and submissions via the submission form: Songs of the Earth | Los Angeles Public Library (lapl.org)
Last modified: August 20, 2024