Releases | New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs

State Invests More than $1 Million to Cultural Organizations across New Mexico

July 15th, 2021

SANTA FE – Today, $1,058,200 in investments to 182 New Mexico cultural organizations and folk artists were announced by the state’s arts agency, New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. 

The funding will provide arts programming and services in 23 counties. It will help spur employment in the creative sector, including independent contract artists, educators, and administrators. The investments will support rural, tribal, and urban communities, with nearly one-third of the investments based in rural areas.  

“gallupARTS is a prime example of the power and potential that New Mexico Arts grants have in low-income and small communities,” said Rose Eason, executive director of the Gallup-based arts council. “New Mexico Arts provides local arts councils across the state, including gallupARTS, much-needed and otherwise hard-to-come-by sustainable funding. Such funding supplies us with solid foundations, which we can leverage into increased resources for our communities. With help from New Mexico Arts, gallupARTS serves 20,000 McKinley County artists and residents each year through more than a dozen programs, and has generated over $750,000 for the regional creative economy in the last five years.” 

Normally, the creative sector contributes about $5.9 billion annually to the state’s economy. While the creative sector was particularly effected by the COVID-19 pandemic, these investments will assist cultural organizations in resuming operations and rehiring creative workers. The funding also supports the recovery of the tourism sector, with recipient organizations required to present a public program over the  funding period, July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. 

“With these Fiscal Year 2022 grant awards, our CARES and FY21 grant funding awards, and our upcoming American Relief Plan funds announcement, New Mexico Arts will have directed more than $3.3 million state and federal funding into the hard-hit nonprofit arts and culture sector of New Mexico,” said Michelle Laflamme-Childs, executive director of New Mexico Arts. “These funds help save jobs and keep the doors open to arts and culture organizations who add tremendous value to our economy and the creative life and livability of our communities.” 

The investments are funded by state general fund with federal matching funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. To view a list of FY22 grant funding awardees by county, click here. 

About New Mexico Arts
New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, is the state arts agency.  New Mexico Arts administers the state’s One Percent for Public Art program, awards grants to nonprofit organizations for arts and cultural programs in their communities across the state, and provides technical assistance and educational opportunities for organizations, artists, and arts educators throughout New Mexico.


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