Kundiman

ABOUT

Kundiman was founded in 2004 to support and develop writers and readers of Asian American literature, taking its name from a genre of Filipino love songs. It is best known for its annual summer Retreat — a multi-day, workshop-intensive gathering historically held at a university campus and led by established Asian American writers — which has become one of the more sought-after community credentials in Asian American poetry and fiction circles. Beyond the retreat, the organization has expanded into a Mentorship Lab pairing emerging writers with established ones, a Poetry Prize for a first or second book manuscript published in partnership with a literary press, regional programming, and a slate of readings, workshops, and craft talks. Kundiman functions less as a magazine or press and more as a literary community and pipeline organization, with many prominent Asian American poets counting its retreat or fellowship among early formative experiences.