The Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College (CENTRO), the largest university-based research institute, library, and archive dedicated to the Puerto Rican experience in the United States, invites art critics, curators, art historians, and art or art history students to submit their original works focusing on contemporary diasporic Puerto Rican visual artists to be included in our Diasporican Art in Motion initiative. This community of artists is understudied and as a result, they are underrepresented in the field of Arts and Arts criticism. This underrepresentation stems from the fact that diasporic Puerto Rican visual artists often fall outside the boundaries of American, Latin American, Caribbean, and sometimes even Puerto Rican art. 

As a research center focused on the Diasporic Puerto Rican experience, we are committed to promote the creation of knowledge of our cultural heritage and expressions. Diasporic Puerto Rican Artists have been at the forefront of identity issues, and their work often examines and expands the national representation boundaries. The production of knowledge based on Diasporic Puerto Rican Artists will not only help the understanding and promotion of their work, but will enlighten the understanding of ourselves and of our diasporic journeys. 

We encourage submissions which align with Centro’s Rooted + Relational research initiatives themes for 2026: Boricuas in Relation and Black Cuerpas: Race, Body Politics & Culture.

Up to 10 selected writings will be published on CENTRO’s digital magazine RicanWritings, social media, and appear in the Diasporican Art in Motion database.

Submission Guidelines

• Submissions are accepted from March 11, 2026 to May 11, 2026 at 11:59PM ET.
• Essays should be no more than 1,500 words and focus on an artist currently included in the Diasporican Art in Motion database. 
• Essays can take form of an artist profile, exhibition review or response, short interview, response to a specific artwork, etc.. 
• Submissions should follow the same standard requirements of our Centro Journal Style Guide with the exception that submissions won’t be sent by email but through a digital form instead and no readers are required. 
• Writers can submit more than one writing for different artists, however only one per author can be selected.
• Manuscripts can be submitted either in English or Spanish. 
• Writings should be original and not previously published.
• We encourage writings on artists whose work has not been widely studied.

Overview of Manuscript Submission Process

• Complete the form in Submittable, ensure all mandatory fields are completed, and review and confirm your submission. We will email you to confirm receipt of your form.
• Submissions will ONLY be accepted via the Submittable form.
• Your manuscript undergoes a rigorous internal and external review process where your submission is evaluated on its quality, originality, and relevance. 
• We will email you with our decision and, if applicable, further steps.   

Compensation for selected essays: $300

Deadline EXTENDED: May 17,  2026, 11:59PM ET

Contact Information

If you encounter any issues or have questions about the submission process, please don't hesitate to contact our team at DiasporicanArts@hunter.cuny.edu before May 11, 2026.

About Diasporican Art in Motion (DAM)

DAM is a digital repository and research catalyst seeking to document the impact of migration on Puerto Rican visual culture and community-building. The initiative includes in-depth profiles of contemporary diasporic Puerto Rican visual artists, the DAM Docuseries, new published writings and more. This community of artists is understudied and as a result, they are underrepresented in the Arts field. Their underrepresentation stems from the fact that diasporic Puerto Rican visual artists often fall outside the boundaries of American, Latin American, and Caribbean art. Moreover, their uniqueness and singular contributions to the arts are overshadowed and diluted by their lack of exposure in sanctioning academic fields and institutions.

About the Center for Puerto Rican Studies

The CENTER for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) at Hunter College, City University of New York, is a research institute dedicated to the study and interpretation of the Puerto Rican experience in the United States by producing and disseminating relevant interdisciplinary research and collecting, preserving, and providing access to archive and library resources that document their history and culture. CENTRO seeks to link scholarship with social action and political debates, and contribute to the enrichment of Puerto Rican studies.

CENTRO is dedicated to the comprehensive collection of data, graphic arts, and library and archival resources that document the history and legacy of Puerto Ricans in the United States, to the study of critical and relevant social issues and conditions affecting this culturally diverse nation, for the purpose of promoting effective community and public sector interventions, and supporting the intellectual and educational advancement of young scholars.

CENTRO's Puerto Rican Diaspora Archives contain more than 5,000 cubic feet of materials and include documents from artists, writers, politicians, activists, and other prominent community figures and organizations. The archives document the diversity of individuals and communities that reside in the city and have sought to focus their efforts on historically Puerto Rican enclaves such as the Lower East Side (Loisaida), East Harlem (El Barrio), the South Bronx, and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In addition, it houses the records of the Offices of the Government of Puerto Rico in the United States, which record the migration and working conditions of Puerto Ricans from the early 1930s until the closing of their offices in the mid-1990s, and document the formation of Puerto Rican communities in neighborhoods throughout the Northeast, Chicago, and Florida, with a special concentration in New York City.

About Hunter College

Located in the heart of Manhattan, Hunter is the largest college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system. Founded in 1870, it is also one of the oldest public colleges in the country and famous for a student body that is as diverse as the city itself. Most Hunter students are the first in their families to attend college and many go on to top professional and graduate programs, winning Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, Mellon fellowships, National Institutes of Health grants, and other competitive honors. More than 23,000 students currently attend Hunter, pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in more than 170 areas of study. The 1,700 full- and part-time members of Hunter’s faculty are unparalleled. They receive prestigious national grants, contribute to the world's leading academic journals, and play major roles in cutting-edge research. They are fighting cancer, formulating public policy, expanding our culture, enhancing technology, and more.

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CENTRO’s Rooted & Relational Archives Fellowship will expose early career archivists to the work and projects of CENTRO’s Archives. The fellowship will present a pathway into Ethnic Studies Libraries and Archives in order to provide students and recent graduates with practical work experience in areas commonly discussed in archival scholarship such as reparatory and bilingual description, community-oriented practices and spaces, and enrichment and diversification of the archival record. 

The CENTRO Rooted & Relational Archives Fellow will develop and implement a Fellowship Project in collaboration with CENTRO’s Digital Collections Manager based on the needs of the Archives as well as the Fellow’s experience and interests. In addition to the Fellowship Project, fellows will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of projects and participate in the day-to-day activities of the Archives, which may include assisting patrons and participating in events and workshops. Through these experiences, fellows will learn collection and project management skills, immerse themselves in CENTRO’s archival collections and communities, and become familiar with digital and analog archiving skills. Fellows will be in residence for the 2026-2027 academic year and they will receive a $20,000 stipend paid in four installments.

The ideal candidate will be an advanced graduate student or recent graduate with experience in archives or special collections, experience conducting the type of work expected for the project, or experience managing small-scale projects. Some project management experience will be considered valuable. The fellow will be expected to work 20 hours a week in person as part of the fellowship. 

The fellow will receive support and mentorship from CENTRO Archives and Library staff and will be responsible for the tracking, implementation, reporting, and dissemination of their designated project. They will also be provided with professional development support and opportunities to develop skills in various areas of interest to information professionals, independent of the fellowship project. Fellows will be encouraged to participate in professional organizations and present their work at conferences and symposia.

Potential Fellowship projects and areas of interest include

• Collection assessment of physical, digital, and/or audiovisual materials
• Development of usage and access metrics 
• Development of access and outreach tools, including LibGuides, instruction plans, and events
• Development of quality control and quality assurance processes
• Reparatory and bilingual description
• Community-oriented practices and spaces

Eligibility

• Current graduate student or recent graduate (within the last 2 years) with coursework in archives or digital preservation (Archives experience may substitute for coursework)
• Reading comprehension in Spanish
• Interest in working with Puerto Rican collections or Ethnic Studies Archives

Application Guidelines

• All documents below must be submitted in PDF 
• CV or  Resume 
• Submit a cover letter in English or Spanish describing your interest in working at the CENTRO Archives, the type(s) of projects you would be interested in working on, and how this fellowship will benefit your career trajectory

Overview of Submission Process

• Complete the form ensuring all mandatory fields are filled
• Review and confirm your submission
• We will email you to confirm receipt of your form
• We will email you with our decision and, if applicable, further steps

Compensation for Selected Fellow 

• $20,000 stipend (paid in four installments)

Contact Information

If you encounter any issues or have questions about the submission process, please don't hesitate to contact Cristina Fontánez Rodríguez at cf3285@hunter.cuny.edu.

About Rooted & Relational 

Rooted & Relational, is a Mellon-funded initiative that seeks to reimagine the research agenda and scholarly and community impact of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) in the US and beyond. This series of projects aims to make CENTRO a public facing, horizontal, decolonial feminist institute that opens new paths in academia and expands community-driven research that expands beyond the walls of the academy. This proposed project strategically links the center’s research agenda, data hub projects, media, arts and culture output, scholarly mentoring initiatives, and community partnerships by creating annual thematic structures that will address some of the most pressing social, political, and economic issues facing Puerto Rico and the diaspora. The goal is to create a unifying higher learning community at CENTRO that tends to the intellectual and cultural needs of our committed and diverse public. 

About CENTRO

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) at Hunter College, is a university-based research institute whose mission is to produce, facilitate, and disseminate interdisciplinary research about the experiences of Puerto Ricans in the U.S. and to collect, preserve, and provide access to archival and library resources documenting the history and culture of Puerto Ricans. To complement these core activities, Centro sponsors a year-round program of educational and cultural activities.

About Hunter College

Located in the heart of Manhattan, Hunter is the largest college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system. Founded in 1870, it is also one of the oldest public colleges in the country and famous for a student body that is as diverse as the city itself. Most Hunter students are the first in their families to attend college and many go on to top professional and graduate programs, winning Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, Mellon fellowships, National Institutes of Health grants, and other competitive honors. More than 23,000 students currently attend Hunter, pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in more than 170 areas of study. The 1,700 full- and part-time members of Hunter’s faculty are unparalleled. They receive prestigious national grants, contribute to the world's leading academic journals, and play major roles in cutting-edge research. They are fighting cancer, formulating public policy, expanding our culture, enhancing technology, and more.