Mellon Foundation launches $25M Frontera Culture Fund for US-Mexico border arts
The Frontera Culture Fund, a $25 million initiative, has been unveiled by the Mellon Foundation to aid arts organizations situated along the US-Mexico border. This marks the first substantial binational arts funding program in the area, which spans over 3,000 kilometers across six Mexican states and four US states. Initially, 32 organizations will receive support, including the Carrizo Comecrudo Nation, Fandango Fronterizo, and the Chicano Park Museum. Additionally, funds have been allocated to New Mexico State University and the University of Texas at El Paso. Developed by Mellon's Arts & Culture team over three years, projects must align with the foundation's priorities, such as a Community Land Trust by the Carrizo Comecrudo Nation. The Mellon Foundation, founded in 1969, is led by Elizabeth Alexander.
Key facts
- Mellon Foundation launched Frontera Culture Fund with $25 million
- Fund supports 32 nonprofit arts organizations along US-Mexico border
- Border spans over 3,000 km, touching 4 US states and 6 Mexican states
- Recipients include Chicano Park Museum, Carrizo Comecrudo Nation, Fandango Fronterizo, Paso del Norte Community Foundation, El Paso Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson, Mexicali Biennial, Azul Arena gallery
- New Mexico State University and University of Texas at El Paso also received funds
- Program developed over three years by Deborah Cullen and Casandra Hernández Faham
- Mellon Foundation established in 1969, chaired by poet Elizabeth Alexander since 2018
- Carrizo Comecrudo Nation to create Community Land Trust for 170 acres of ancestral land
Entities
Artists
- Diego Rivera
- Elizabeth Alexander
Institutions
- Mellon Foundation
- Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center
- Carrizo Comecrudo Nation of Texas
- Fandango Fronterizo
- Paso del Norte Community Foundation
- El Paso Museum of Art
- Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson
- Mexicali Biennial
- Azul Arena
- New Mexico State University
- University of Texas at El Paso
- San Francisco Art Institute
Locations
- United States
- Mexico
- San Diego
- Floresville
- Tijuana
- Nuevo Laredo
- El Paso
- Tucson
- Ciudad Juarez
- Rio Grande
- Pittsburgh
- Pennsylvania
- Denver
- Porto Rico