County to form ‘Creative Division’ with state grant
$100K to support entrepreneurship workshops and paid youth internships
Taos County is among the first 18 communities in New Mexico to receive a new economic development grant in support of creative industries.
The $100,000 grant will be directed toward a “Creative Industries Division,” which will provide assistance to fledgling businesses in a diverse range of industries in the form of entrepreneurship workshops, and paid youth internships.
The creative industries are “a conglomerate or category of business and/or businesses that pertain to the production or distribution of the arts or are driven by creativity outputs, and roll up into the creative sector,” according to Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. “Creative industries are composed of arts-centric businesses that range from nonprofit museums, symphonies, and theaters to for-profit film, architecture, and advertising companies.”
The Taos County Commission approved an agreement to accept the grant during a special meting on Tuesday (Oct. 10) that took place as the first early voters to cast ballots in the Nov. 7 regular local election trickled in behind a cordon dividing the commission chambers in two.
Jessica Stern, Taos County economic development director, said the county worked with the Taos Arts Council, Taos County Chamber of Commerce, Taos Center for the Arts (TCA) and the Millicent Rogers Museum to field ideas and craft the grant proposal.
“The project is a two-pronged program that will expand upon and continue a youth internship program currently underway at the TCA that places young people in paid internships with arts and cultural organizations,” Stern said. “The second part of the project will offer three
in-person, weekend-long business development workshops across the County for artists and creative entrepreneurs between January-June 2024. “
The workshops will be offered to students and adults aged 16-30 years old who are seeking career pathways in technology, digital media, management and administration, but who lack opportunities in Taos County.
Participants will have the chance to work directly with successful local nonprofit arts programs and businesses, such as Paseo Project, Wildflower Playhouse and The Hive, to develop skills, business strategies and marketing ideas for their own businesses, as well as form networks with other local artists and entrepreneurs.
According to the grant
proposal, the program is also intended to address the disparity between the notion of “Taos as an arts destination,” and a lack of opportunities for entry into the arts in some communities.
“Taos County is committed to equitable access to the business development workshops, and has dedicated funds in the grant budget for transportation, child and/or elder care, and other
needs that may arise that would otherwise prohibit individuals from participating and advancing their creative practices,” Stern said.
A recent economic impact study regarding the local creative economy will be presented at the Millicent Rogers Museum on Saturday at 3 p.m. RSVP at mrm@millicentrogers.org.