Ventana Records
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Ventana was founded by cultural workers who had toured Nicaragua in June and July 1983. Its activities included cultural exchanges with the Sandinista Cultural Workers Association (ASTC), collection of cultural supplies for Nicaraguan arts organizations, and support of anti-war networks and coalitions. The collection contains flyers, brochures, clippings, newspapers, and posters.
Historical Note
Ventana was founded by several individuals who had been with one of two delegations of cultural workers to tour Nicaragua in June and July 1983. The official structure and name was given in early 1984 with the participation of other more recently returned delegates (in particular, a delegation of theatre workers, Dec. 1983).
"We are North American artists and cultural workers who oppose United States intervention and destabilization efforts in Nicaragua, in Central America and the Caribbean. We support the people of the Americas in their right to self-determination and the right to govern in the interests of the majority of the people. Having witnessed the disastrous effects of U.S. foreign policy on the people of Nicaragua, we seek to change this policy through the use of our cultural skills and activities."
Activities since its founding include sending additional delegations, hosted by the Sandinista Cultural Workers Association (ASTC), hosting in NY well-known painters and performers from Nicaragua, collecting cultural supplies as material aid to Nicaraguan arts organizations, and participating in solidarity and anti-war networks and coalitions. Using their firsthand accounts, individual members have written articles, plays, novels, films, reports and editorial letters. (The most outstanding accomplishment in this respect is Ventana delegate Reed Brody's front-page report on contra atrocities). Others have incorporated their experiences into theatre and musical performances, sculpture, photography, and paintings. Many have shown slides to friends, colleagues, school programs, etc.
Arrangement
Files are arranged by subject.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains flyers and brochures, newsclippings and pamphlets, posters. Ventana receives these from returning delegations, mailings from other organizations, and individual donations. The ephemeral nature of much of the material will make this collection a valuable source of information about the wide range of activities in response to the U.S. policies toward Nicaragua. The documents from Nicaragua and reports by North American eyewitnesses provide sympathetic coverage and more accurate evidence of Nicaraguan reality than is generally available in the U.S. These include reports on the contra activities, the Miskitu Indians, the Nicaraguan elections, the history of the literacy campaign, and the trade unions.
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without resriction with the exception of boxes 8 and 9. These materials are restricted to members of Ventana only or researchers with permission of the Ventana Executive Committee.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (and related rights to publicity and privacy) to materials in this collection created by Ventana are held by Ventana and was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Ventana Records; TAM 121; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Ventana Collection was initiated by the Executive Committee of Ventana in late 1984 and the first papers officially received by the Tamiment Library on April 17, 1985. Additional materials were received in late 1987, 1988 and 1989. The accession number associated with this gift is 1984.010.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Decisions regarding arrangement, description, and physical interventions for this collection prior to 2020 are unknown. Prior inventories may have either reflected a different arrangment of the materials, or may have included errors introduced during data conversion from word processing documents. In October 2019, conservators humidified, flattened, and rehoused the Nicaraguan newspapers. In October 2020, the inventory was updated to reflect the current contents of boxes.
