The Bi-National Arts Institute -BNAI- is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to provide quality arts education.
With projects on both sides of the US / México Border, we cultivate the arts through training, performance and exchange opportunities for the youth and adults of our region.
As a catalyst, the Institute channels the creative expression of music, poetry, film and other media by celebrating our shared human experience across the border.
CONCERT WITHOUT BORDERS
BNAI’s signature project, Concert Without Borders, is a unique binational celebration of arts, music and community.
The 2019 edition of Concert Without Borders will be held on Saturday, August 24 at 5:30 pm.
The concert takes place simultaneously in the states of Sonora and Arizona. The event is located immediately to the west of the Douglas/Agua Prieta port-of-entry in the cities of Douglas, AZ and Agua Prieta, SON.
In this annual event, musicians and communities gather at both sides of the U.S./Mexican border, divided by a political barrier but unified by something greater—the gift of music and dance, the transformative...
Why study music from Sonora? Events that occurred in this northern Mexico state affected people in Arizona. Due to their geographic closeness and their distance from the more populated central Mexican states, reciprocal influences between Sonora and Arizona are prevalent in economic and cultural ways.
The Mexican Cristero conflict of the 1920s received funding by faithful Catholics in Arizona. Priests exiled from Sonora came to Arizona. Migration, economic dependency, and familial ties between the two states are well known. This cultural interchange can be seen as well in the music of Sonora. For example, influences from the United States can be seen...
SACRED MUSIC FROM THE RIO SONORA
BE PART OF BNAI
Do you play an instrument or sing? Do you want to share your art in future concerts, art exhibitions or programs? Would you like to participate in one of our musical ensembles? Local artists from both sides of the border are strongly encouraged to take part in the BNAI programs.
There are also other ways to participate in our mission. New volunteers, supporters, sponsors and donors for existent and new programs will be all welcome!