The Mellon Foundation has committed to support artistic and cultural production of the US/Mexico Borderlands through its recently announced Frontera Culture Fund. With an initial $25 million investment, the philanthropic organization aims to “amplify the voices of artists and cultural leaders who continue to shape the borderlands as a place of beauty, radical imagination, and collective action.”
The MexiCali Biennial was honored to receive a $150,000 Borderlands Culture Fund grant from the Mellon in 2022 for its previous program “Land of Milk & Honey” which invited artists to explore diverse themes of agriculture in the Californias. In 2024, the Mellon recommitted to support the Biennial through an additional $300,000 to further organizational capacity and programs. Through the recent grant, we will be publishing a full-color catalogue and actively research the 2026 MexiCali Biennial, titled the PARA/normal Borders LAB through continued exhibitions, research, community-centered programs, and a forthcoming podcast.
Please read the feature “A Moveable Feast That’s Transforming Boundaries” to learn more about the the accomplishments achieved in “Land of Milk & Honey” by clicking the button below.
We are deeply appreciative of the support from the Mellon Foundation and will continue to support the borderlands region as a vital region of cultural importance. Learn more about the Borderlands Culture initiative and the Frontera Culture Fund HERE.