NM ARTS GET $1.5M BOOST
One-third of the funding was given to rural communities
Thanks to New Mexico Arts and NM CARES, some 200 organizations will receive grants.
Nearly 200 arts organizations are receiving grants from New Mexico Arts. The state agency announced Monday that $1.5 million in state and federal funding has been granted to 197 organizations. Of the total, $420,000 was awarded as part of NM CARES.
New Mexico Arts is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.
According to the DCA, the resources will fund online arts programming and services, assist with the retention of full- and part-time jobs, and support independently-contracted artists, arts administrators, and arts educators across the state.
One-third of the funding was awarded to organizations based in New Mexico’s rural communities.
“The mission of New Mexico Arts is to provide financial and other support to arts programs and providers around the state,” said Jenice Gharib, grants program and policy director for the agency. “This $1.5 million in state and federal funds will provide some measure of relief for our arts providers that continue to provide programs and services for adults and youth in our state and keep New Mexicans employed during these precarious times.”
According to the data, organizations in Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties received the most grants.
Sixty Bernalillo County organizations were awarded a total of $331,905. While in Santa Fe County, 60 organizations received grants with a sum of $339,946.
Taos County had 17 arts organizations with a total of $92,877.
The grants ranged from $2,000 to $6,652, according to the state. The arts organizations are located in 23 counties across New Mexico.
According to New Mexico Arts, the state’s arts and culture sector, which typically contributes roughly $5.9 billion annually to New Mexico’s economy, has taken a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. State officials have suspended large gatherings, resulting in the cancellation of in-person programming, the layoff of musicians and other artists, and in some cases the complete closure of organizations.
“Because of a decline in ticket sales, which can be a significant source of income for performing arts organizations, arts providers have been called upon to create virtual programming for their audiences,” the department said.