Naco Heritage Alliance (NHA), a nonprofit responsible for Camp Naco, a historic Buffalo Soldier Campsite located along the U.S.-Mexico border, has developed a dynamic fellowship program for artists, scholars, and scientists. In May 2025 we invited proposals from diverse disciplines– including historians, writers, other scholarly disciplines, written arts, visual arts, theatre, music, culinary arts, installation art and printmaking, industrial arts, textile arts, and media arts–that engage with the rich history of the camp and/or surrounding area, particularly the stories of African American military service, Indigenous communities, Mexican communities, and borderlands experiences.

The fellowship provides an opportunity for selected arts and scholars to create work that highlights these narratives while encouraging innovation and original artistic expression. These projects reflect a deep understanding of the cultural, historical, and ecological context of the borderlands and/or Camp Naco and demonstrate a commitment to community engagement through performances, presentations, exhibitions, and/or workshops.

Applicants were encouraged to propose projects that promote sustainability, foster meaningful connections with the local community, and integrate the arts and knowledge sharing in ways that support the long-term vitality of Camp Naco. These fellows and their work celebrate the history of the space and will contribute to its legacy through accessible, thought-provoking artistic or scholarly experiences for all ages, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue about Camp Naco’s significance. Through this fellowship, we are proud to create a platform for new artistic and scholarly voices that inspire, empower, and engage both local and broader audiences in the ongoing cultural narrative of this site.