Trendsetter: Get to Know Rhode Island Latino Arts Executive Director Marta V. Martinez

Photograph courtesy of Rhode Island Press Association/Glenn Osmundson

Marta V. Martinez is the driving force behind Rhode Island Latino Arts, an organization that nurtures Latino creativity in all its forms, and the creator of Nuestras Raíces: The Latino Oral History Project of Rhode Island, which preserves and shares the state’s Latinx stories. From salsa to theater to the visual arts, RILA is a vibrant hub where culture thrives and evolves and artists can fully express themselves. By supporting underrepresented voices and broadening access to the arts, Martinez is reshaping Rhode Island’s cultural scene and redefining inclusive arts leadership.

How has your heritage influenced your journey as a community leader?

I’m here to see how RILA can promote Latino art in the community. It’s important to have somebody at the table who has our perspective. I often find myself being the only Latina [at said table] and seeing how that has not changed leaves me frustrated. I’ve been recruiting others to join me, so we never lose our voice. 

What inspired you to become involved in Latino arts in Rhode Island?

I was looking for tortillas and tamales, and there was nothing around. I went to Broad Street where I met the loveliest people speaking Spanish. Many had the same story — they opened their bodegas and hair salons because there was no other Latino doing it. That inspired me to start a community.

How did it feel to be inducted into the Rhode Island Journalism Hall of Fame?

It was a huge surprise. I don’t consider myself a journalist, let alone worthy to be in the Journalism Hall of Fame. I do have a journalism degree, but the award was for Nuestras Raíces: The Latino Oral History Project of Rhode Island. I was proud to look out into the audience and see all these great journalists whom I admire staring back at me. It was very humbling to be there. 

What are your go-to places in Rhode Island for food or inspiration?

For inspiration, Beavertail State Park in Jamestown and Providence’s Prospect Terrace. I love to soak in the views that go on forever and ever, and you don’t know when it’s going to end. For food, I like Casa Azul Taqueria [in Providence]. It feels like I’m eating my mom’s food. Mexican food is not always healthy, but they have found a way to make it healthy and taste authentic.