Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15 and recognizes the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans to history, culture, and society.

Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, but the observance was expanded into a month-long celebration in 1988 by the U.S. Congress.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, several Latin American countries celebrate the anniversary of their independence, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15, Mexico on September 16, and Chile on September 18.

Throughout the month and all year long, learn something new about the achievements of Hispanic Americans and the events that shaped history through our library resources.

"Cultura Tallahassee" Exhibit Call for Artists

Submit Your Art

Residents of all ages are invited to submit artwork celebrating Hispanic culture, heritage, and history for the upcoming exhibition Cultura Tallahassee: The Colors of Community at the Leon County Public Library. The exhibit will be on display during Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 through October 15, 2025.

Artists working in 2D (painting, photography, printmaking, mixed media, etc.) and 3D mediums are invited to apply. Two-dimensional works cannot be larger than 24 x 24 inches, and three-dimensional works cannot exceed a height of eight inches or 24 x 54 inches squared.

Please submit the online application by 5 p.m. EST on Friday, August 29, 2025, and include a photo of your artwork along with the title, artist’s name, artwork size, and date of creation. You may submit an artist statement or brief description of the artwork, although it is not necessary.

Residentes de todas las edades estan invitados a someter obras de arte que celebre el Mes de la Cultura Hispana. Las obras de arte serán parte de la próxima exposición Cultura Tallahassee: Los Colores de la Comunidad en la biblioteca LeRoy Collins del condado de Leon. La exposición se llevará a cabo en varias bibliotecas desde el 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre de 2025.

Los artistas con obras de 2D (pintura, fotografía, grabado, técnica mixta, etc.) y/o 3D son invitados a participar. Las obras bidimensionales no pueden tener más de 24 x 24 pulgadas y las obras tridimensionales no pueden exceder ocho pulgadas de altura o 24 x 54 pulgadas cuadradas.

Someta su solicitud atraves de nuestra pagina de red antes de las 5 p.m. EST del 29 de agosto del 2025 e incluya una foto de su obra de arte junto con el título, el nombre del artista, el tamaño de la obra de arte y la fecha de creación. Puede someter una breve descripción de la obra artística, pero no es necesario.

Events

Cultura Tallahassee Exhibit Opening
September 20, 1 to 2 p.m.

Audience: all Location:
Leon County Main Library
Description:

Celebrate Hispanic culture, heritage, and history during the opening of the Cultura Tallahassee: The Colors of Community exhibit featuring artwork by local artists in a variety of mediums. Light refreshments will be provided.
Beyond the Script: A Journey Into Hispanic Theater
September 24, 6 to 7 p.m.

Audience: adults Location:
Leon County Main Library
Description:

Step into the world of Hispanic theater with a captivating 20-minute performance by the Tallahassee Hispanic Theater, showcasing the work of a local Hispanic playwright. The play will be performed in English and is open to all.

Following the performance, enjoy a lecture by Alejandra Gutiérrez, a Spanish instructor at Florida State University and an expert in contemporary Hispanic drama.

The Tallahassee Hispanic Theater is dedicated to bringing powerful, contemporary Hispanic stories to life, fostering cultural understanding and enriching the community through the arts.

Experience this unique blend of performance and insight celebrating the heart and voice of Hispanic culture.
Author Talk: "Nuestra América" with Adrián Aldaba & Emily Key
October 2, 2 to 3 p.m.

Audience: teens-adults Location:
Virtual
Description:

Join us in conversation with Smithsonian professionals Adrián Aldaba and Emily Key as they discuss Nuestra América and highlight inspiring stories of Latinos throughout history, as well as their incredible contributions to the cultural, social, and political character of the United States.

The stories in Nuestra América cover each figure's cultural background and childhood, and their accomplishments or contributions to American history. A glossary of terms and discussion question-filled reading guide, created by the National Museum of the American Latino, encourages further research and exploration. The museum has featured twenty-three of these stories in its exhibition ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States, the first exhibition to feature U.S. Latino history at the national level.

Featuring beautifully illustrated portraits by Gloria Félix, this is a book that children (and adults) will page through and learn from again and again. A must have for every school and home library to help students understand the American story!

Register for this virtual Author Talk at LeonCountyLibrary.org/AuthorTalks.

View upcoming Author Talk programs and recordings of past talks at LeonCountyLibrary.org/AuthorTalks.

The Author Talk series is sponsored by the Friends of the Leon County Public Library.
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