Heinrich, Luján Laud Over $42 Million In Grant Awards To 74 New Mexico Venues

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that 74 New Mexico venues have received more than $42 million in aid from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program.

“I fought to fund the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program in the American Rescue Plan so that New Mexico’s arts and culture community can rebuild and thrive,” said Heinrich. “I’m proud to see 74 New Mexico venues receive over $42 million in SVOG funding. I encourage New Mexicans to continue getting vaccinated so that many of these venues can safely reopen– allowing artists, performers, and more the opportunity to get the show back on the road.”

“The Shuttered Venues Operators Grant (SVOG) Program is helping New Mexico venues keep their doors open and allowing New Mexico’s vibrant arts community to thrive,” said Luján. “This funding has provided over $42 million to 74 venues across New Mexico, and I’m confident that this program will continue to make a real difference in the lives of New Mexicans.”

Congress created SVOG in the bipartisan Economic Aid Act passed in December, which also appropriated $15 billion to the program. An additional $1.25 billion in funding for the program was included in President Joe Biden’s historic American Rescue Plan.

SVOG provides grants of up to $10 million to live venue operators and promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organizations, museums, independent movie theaters, and talent representatives that can demonstrate a revenue loss of at least 25% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant awards are for an amount equal to 45% of the recipient organization’s 2019 gross earned revenue, up to $10 million.

New Mexico venue operators have commended Senators Heinrich and Luján for their efforts to empower the SVOG program.

“This grant will ensure the safe reopening of Popejoy Hall. We are forever grateful to our extraordinary donors who also stepped up to support the organization and for all our patrons, old and new, who subscribed to the new season in record numbers. It is clear our community wants and needs live performing arts and we’re planning and hopeful for a reopening this fall,” said Tom Tkach, director of the University of New Mexico’s Popejoy Hall.

“Receiving funding from SVOG has been vital to North Fourth Art Center by giving our nonprofit the opportunity to regroup and recover so that we can continue serving the arts community. We are very grateful for the support of Senator Heinrich and Senator Lujan in advocating for the SVOG program and for their ongoing support of the arts in New Mexico,” said Marjorie Neset, executive director, North Fourth Art Center.

“The SVOG funding that the National Institute of Flamenco has received is truly a life line and a game changer for our performing arts nonprofit. All regular performances and classes ceased due to COVID while we fought to do any sort of programming and keep our people employed, it was not sustainable. The SVOG funding administered by the US Small Business Administration is going to allow us to continue to keep our doors open, provide classes, and performances in New Mexico. Thank you to the New Mexico Congressional Delegation, in particular Senator Martin Heinrich, for your support of the SVOG grant, which is a lifesaver for venues and performing arts organizations around the United States,” said Marisol Encinias, executive director, National Institute of Flamenco.

“AMP Concerts was thrilled to be a recipient of the SVOG grant. The funds from this program have already helped us pay our staff through the pandemic and will allow us to keep doing programs while our business continues to be disrupted. It will also have an impact across the community, resulting not just in more events for people to enjoy, but also in funds and projects for artists and local companies and contractors across the state. The impact will be felt by us and the community for years to come. Many thanks to Senators Heinrich and Luján and the New Mexico congressional delegation for supporting this effort!” said Neal Copperman, executive director of AMP concerts.

A list of New Mexico SVOG award recipients can be found by clicking here.