Cal State San Bernardino, in partnership with MexiCali Biennial, a nonprofit visual arts organization co-created in 2006 by associate professor of art Edward “Ed” Gomez, has been awarded an ACLS Sustaining Public Engagement Grant.

This grant is part of a $3.5 million responsive funding program made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)’s Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative. CSUSB received $66,906 for the “MexiCali Biennial: The Land of Milk and Honey,” which is a series a multi-disciplinary traveling arts and culture programs presented by the MexiCali Biennial and partnering institutions located throughout the Californias and along the border region.

“After many challenges faced within the last two years, I am both humbled and honored to be part of a team that was awarded an ACLS Sustaining Public Engagement Grant,” said Gomez, who founded the MexiCali Biennial with fellow artist Luis G. Hernandez. “The grant will greatly enhance public-facing humanities-based programs and collaborations with CSUSB’s Department of Art and Design, MexiCali Biennial, the Cheech Center for Chicano Art and Culture of the Riverside Art Museum, and other art organizations in the Inland Empire and Imperial Valley.”

Drawing inspiration from American writer John Steinbeck, the program will provide a comprehensive look at expanded modern and historical views of agriculture and related subtopics including labor, migration and food security through exhibits, panel discussions, film screenings, music programs and community-based interactive projects.

Members of the principal project team include Gomez, Hernandez, Rosalia Romero, Enid Baxter Ryce and April Lillard-Gomez.

MexiCali Biennial: The Land of Milk and Honey is one of 24 grantees that represent public programs based at a variety of public and private institutions from 18 states and Puerto Rico. Awarded programs have demonstrated a deep commitment to the co-creation of knowledge with diverse communities outside of academia and promising approaches to addressing the most pressing issues our society faces today.

The ACLS Sustaining Public Engagement Grant supports public humanities programs based at accredited U.S. colleges and universities that have experienced staffing reductions related to pandemic conditions, programming setbacks, and/or loss of institutional capacity for publicly engaged work.

Partnering institutions include CSUSB, Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, the Cheech Center for Chicano Arts and Culture of the Riverside Art Museum, Steppling Gallery at San Diego State University, IVC (Calexico), Planta Libre Espacio Experimental (Mexicali), Museo IIC (Mexicali), Best Practice Gallery (San Diego), San Bernardino County Museum, the Library of Congress, Hispanic Reading Room and ESTA, an NIH-funded program housed at California State University, Monterey Bay.