Celebrating Our Region in Word, Image and Sound The Inlandia Institute is a lively center of literary activity serving the 29,000 sq. mile inland Southern California Region. It grew out of the highly acclaimed anthology Inlandia: A Literary Journey through California’s Inland Empire, published by Heyday Books in 2006 with the active participation of the Riverside Public Library. The cultural programming that supported the anthology led to the development of the Inlandia Institute in 2007. Inlandia incorporated in 2009 and was granted non-profit status in 2012. The Institute’s tax ID number is 27-0586882. Our mission is to recognize, support, and expand literary activity in all of its forms in the Inland Empire by publishing books and sponsoring programs that deepen people’s awareness, understanding, and appreciation of this unique, complex and creatively vibrant region. We have a dedicated group of leaders: directors, staff, workshop leaders, and advisors and have forged partnerships throughout our region.
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. Inlandia Institute also co-publishes books with Heyday under the Inlandia Institute imprint. 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. 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. 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.
