NM Arts and NM Department of Cultural Affairs seek artists for 2022 NM-themed activity book 

February 8th, 2022

Santa Fe, NM - The Art in Public Places Program of New Mexico Arts and the NM Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) seek to commission up to 26 New Mexican artists to create coloring page illustrations for a New Mexico-themed activity book. The project will create a multi-lingual, multi-cultural New Mexico-themed alphabet coloring book to further early childhood literacy. The application deadline is March 18, 2022. 

Each illustration will represent a letter of the alphabet with an accompanying short sentence. To support and encourage cultural diversity, artists are encouraged to embrace their own native languages and culture in determining which letters and words they would like to illustrate.  

This request for qualifications is open to all artists working in New Mexico, except for current NMDCA employees. Artists submitting qualifications should demonstrate an ability to create similar work commensurate with the scope of this project. Artists will be paid $1,000 per completed illustration. Details regarding project intent, eligibility, selection process and criteria, submission requirements, and the project timeline can be found at https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=9571. 

This creative collaboration is spearheaded by a committee of educators from across the department. The 2022 NMDCA Activity Book project will distribute more than 10,000 books across the state through local libraries and community organizations. The book will also be available for digital download. Click here to view all the communities NMDCA reached in 2021 across the state. The 2021 activity book is still available for download at dcaeducates.nmculture.org/dca-activity-book/. 

About the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs 
Created in 1978 by the New Mexico Legislature, the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) is New Mexico’s cultural steward, charged with preserving and showcasing the state’s cultural riches. With its eight museums, seven historic sites, arts, archaeology, historic preservation, and library programs, the DCA is one of the largest and most diverse state cultural agencies in the nation. Together, the facilities, programs, and services of the Department support a $5.6 billion cultural industry in New Mexico. 

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.