New Mexico Arts awards nine organizations Military Mini Grants
New Mexico has 141,558 veterans residing in the state, with military retirees in all 33 counties. Nearly 9% of the adults in the state are veterans – a higher percentage than neighboring states and the 12th largest veteran-to-adult population in the United States.
This is the exact reason New Mexico Arts runs the Military Mini Grant Program.
According to New Mexico Arts, the funding supports arts organizations and veteran-focused organizations to create or expand opportunities for veterans and active-duty service members to engage with the arts.
New Mexico Arts is awarding $2,500 mini grants that will serve military and veteran audiences – including active-duty service members, reservists, National Guard members, veterans, their families and caregivers, and others.
“The Arts & The Military Initiative is rooted in New Mexico Arts’ mission to ensure the arts are central to the lives of New Mexicans,” said Michelle Laflamme-Childs, New Mexico Arts executive director. “These proposed projects show the variety of creative efforts our partners use to engage military connected audiences through the arts. Studies continue to show that participation in arts and culture activities and programs can improve the health, well-being and quality of life for our military and veteran populations, their families and their caregivers.”
Nine New Mexico-based organizations have been selected for projects
that meet the criteria of the following program goals:
■ Create more opportunities for military and veteran audiences – including active-duty service members, reservists, National Guard members, veterans, their families and caregivers, and others – to meaningfully engage with the arts.
■ Build capacity among New Mexico organizations to offer arts programs for military-connected participants.
Proposals were received from 19 organizations across the state seeking support.
Here are the recipients:
■ SouthWest Writers — Albuquerque.
■ Santa Fe Children’s Museum —
Santa Fe.
■ Ghost Ranch National Foundation — Abiquiú.
■ KSJE’s Native Art Veteran Voices of the Four Corners — Farmington.
■ Flamenco Works — Albuquerque.
■ Otero Arts — Alamogordo. Center — Santa Fe.
■ New Mexico Veteran Art — Peralta.
■ Western New Mexico University — Silver City.
The Arts & The Military Mini Grants, is a program of New Mexico Arts with the funding support of the Department of Cultural Affairs and the New Mexico Legislature.