This prize is named after Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, O.S.H. (1651-1695), a 17th Century Mexican nun who was one of the most brilliant intellectuals, poets, and playwrights of her time and beyond. Sor Juana was named the 10th Muse during her time because of her ingenuity in poetry, philosophy, music, and the sciences. She was also known for defending the rights of women and minorities, for whom she continues to be a role model today. Sor Juana’s work is consistently taught in Spanish-speaking schools and universities around the world.

For eight consecutive years, Artes de México en Utah has organized the Sor Juana Contest for Poetry and Prose in Spanish, wich is the only state-wide contest of its kind. Every year we receive around a hundred entries from adults and highschool students partcipating in two categories: Category I (people who speak Spanish as their first language); or Category II (people who speak Spanish as their second language). The topics selected by the participants often vary but include social justice, nature, memories, emotions, culture, history and literature, life and death. This has been a great opportunity for students and adults to write in Spanish and to encourage writers of Utah’s second most widely-spoken language.

Besides, for the third year, we also launched the Call for Artists to highlight the visual arts and received entries of young participants as well as of adults. The selected artworks are displayed in a book along with the winners of the poetry and prose contest.