Border/Arte supports women-identified and femme collectives in the Borderlands and amplifies the voices of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, queer, non-binary, and API artists by fostering place-based and binational cultural collaborations, discussions, and cultural gatherings. Border/Arte highlights creativity across various art forms—from multimedia installations to theater, dance, poetry, and readings—within the ever-changing tapestry of US/Mexico borderlands.
Border/Arte theorizes the border as both a geopolitical location and conceptual landscape in which competing cultural narratives, political tensions, and imaginative possibilities shape our identities. Through cultural and artistic interventions, Border/Arte addresses complex issues including migration, race, gender, climate change, water rights, Indigenous land rights, and displacement. By collaborating with artists, cultural workers, and grassroots organizations in urban and rural areas of the Sonoran Desert, including Phoenix, Colorado River, Tucson, Nogales, Agua Prieta, San Luis, Somerton and Mexicali, we provoke meaningful conversations and support base-buildng efforts through cultural organizing.
Special thank you to LISC Phoenix, Wend Foundation, Henner Foundation, Mass LIberation AZ.
Border/Arte theorizes the border as both a geopolitical location and conceptual landscape in which competing cultural narratives, political tensions, and imaginative possibilities shape our identities. Through cultural and artistic interventions, Border/Arte addresses complex issues including migration, race, gender, climate change, water rights, Indigenous land rights, and displacement. By collaborating with artists, cultural workers, and grassroots organizations in urban and rural areas of the Sonoran Desert, including Phoenix, Colorado River, Tucson, Nogales, Agua Prieta, San Luis, Somerton and Mexicali, we provoke meaningful conversations and support base-buildng efforts through cultural organizing.
Special thank you to LISC Phoenix, Wend Foundation, Henner Foundation, Mass LIberation AZ.
Feb 19 - 23, 2025
Artist Research Trip: Colorado River Delta, Sonora, MX
Artists, cultural organizers, and curators research will engage in a 5-day investigation along along the Colorado River from CRIT to Santa Clara del Golfo, MX meeting with artists and cultural workers in Mexicali and Cucapah Nation.
March 3 - 7, 2025
Divya Victor Residency
Collaboration with The Poetry Center Tucson for the Arts Residency featuring poet Divya Victor. Residency will engage with poets at the US/MX border and with a curated Living Room Sessions, an intimate salon for sharing and convivencia.
Location: Tucson, AZ + Nogales, Son
March 25, April 22, May 20, June 13 , 2025
Climate Justice Film Series: Water / Border/ Migration
A monthly film series exploring the intersection of climate change and the US-Mexico border through Black and Indigenous lenses. It delves into the environmental devastation, displacement, and cultural resilience faced by marginalized communities, highlighting their struggles, activism, and profound connection to the land in the face of systemic injustice. All films are open to the public and free. 6:30 pm.
Location: Phoenix, AZ
April 29 - May 8, 2025
Panama Artist-Research Trip
Visit and research focused on the histories of Afro-Indigenous artists as they engage in water and labor rights in Panama.
Locations: Panama City, Panama Canal, Darien Gap.
October 9 - 17, 2025
Alabama Civil Rights and Artist Retreat
Border/Arte will work with artists in Alabama to begin a year-long collaboration focused on histories of Black artists in rural Alabama, connecting historical social movements with contemporary justice actions.
Locations: Birmingham, Selma, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Africa Town.
October 17, 2025 - Jan, 2026
Artist Residency:
Cristina Lizarga (Tohono O'odham, Sonora, MX) and Tania Ximena (Mexico City)
Continuing Border/Arte's work on the Delta, we will work with O'odham ceramist and filmmaker to address histories of water and the Salt Pilgrimage of O'odham tribe in the Sonoran Desert. All programming will be in Spanish with English translation.
Location: Sonora, MX / Tucson, AZ
November 8 - 17, 2025
Binational Arts Residency
Our 7th Binational Arts Residency engages with histories of Chinese migration in the US/MX borderlands. We will work with artists on both sides of the border to learn about the unique social architecture and food fusion culture in the borderlands.
Location: Mexicali, Baja California
Artist Research Trip: Colorado River Delta, Sonora, MX
Artists, cultural organizers, and curators research will engage in a 5-day investigation along along the Colorado River from CRIT to Santa Clara del Golfo, MX meeting with artists and cultural workers in Mexicali and Cucapah Nation.
March 3 - 7, 2025
Divya Victor Residency
Collaboration with The Poetry Center Tucson for the Arts Residency featuring poet Divya Victor. Residency will engage with poets at the US/MX border and with a curated Living Room Sessions, an intimate salon for sharing and convivencia.
Location: Tucson, AZ + Nogales, Son
March 25, April 22, May 20, June 13 , 2025
Climate Justice Film Series: Water / Border/ Migration
A monthly film series exploring the intersection of climate change and the US-Mexico border through Black and Indigenous lenses. It delves into the environmental devastation, displacement, and cultural resilience faced by marginalized communities, highlighting their struggles, activism, and profound connection to the land in the face of systemic injustice. All films are open to the public and free. 6:30 pm.
Location: Phoenix, AZ
April 29 - May 8, 2025
Panama Artist-Research Trip
Visit and research focused on the histories of Afro-Indigenous artists as they engage in water and labor rights in Panama.
Locations: Panama City, Panama Canal, Darien Gap.
October 9 - 17, 2025
Alabama Civil Rights and Artist Retreat
Border/Arte will work with artists in Alabama to begin a year-long collaboration focused on histories of Black artists in rural Alabama, connecting historical social movements with contemporary justice actions.
Locations: Birmingham, Selma, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Africa Town.
October 17, 2025 - Jan, 2026
Artist Residency:
Cristina Lizarga (Tohono O'odham, Sonora, MX) and Tania Ximena (Mexico City)
Continuing Border/Arte's work on the Delta, we will work with O'odham ceramist and filmmaker to address histories of water and the Salt Pilgrimage of O'odham tribe in the Sonoran Desert. All programming will be in Spanish with English translation.
Location: Sonora, MX / Tucson, AZ
November 8 - 17, 2025
Binational Arts Residency
Our 7th Binational Arts Residency engages with histories of Chinese migration in the US/MX borderlands. We will work with artists on both sides of the border to learn about the unique social architecture and food fusion culture in the borderlands.
Location: Mexicali, Baja California
