N.M. Delegation Welcomes $485,000 In Federal Funding To Support 19 Arts Organizations Across The State

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) are welcoming a total of $485,000 in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support public engagement strategies for 19 arts organizations across New Mexico.

 

“New Mexico’s vibrant arts community fuels our state’s culture, traditions, and economy,” said Heinrich. “These federal investments will support talented creatives across our state who make important contributions to the wellbeing of our communities and the strength of local economies.”

 

“New Mexico artists – from painters and sculptors to musicians and filmmakers– help power the creative economy, drive tourism, and honor our state’s rich culture. I’m proud that 19 arts organizations across New Mexico will receive strong federal investments to continue their important work and showcase New Mexicans’ incredible talents,” said Luján.

 

“In New Mexico, art is interwoven into our identity, shared traditions, and our herencia. One in ten paychecks in our state is tied to the arts,” said Leger Fernández. “These funds will help organizations cultivate creativity in our communities so that New Mexicans have the resources to explore and create. When we invest in the arts, we invest in our economy, our gente, and our cultura.”

 

“Our creative community is an integral part of our state’s rich cultural fabric, helping to celebrate and uplift our heritage, traditions, and identities through countless forms of art,” said Stansbury. “I’m proud that these federal investments will help to create more opportunities for New Mexicans to engage with the incredible art our state has to offer, support our local artists, and contribute to the well-being and economic development of our communities through the arts.”

 

“There are ways to foster community and economic development through the arts, and I am proud to see federal investment going to these organizations that will make a difference at the local level,” said Vasquez. “La Semilla Food Center in Anthony, NM is focused on creating and supporting a more equitable and sustainable food system in the Paso del Norte region. I look forward to seeing what more they can achieve with this new funding.”

 

Grants provided through the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects support organizations creating opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, the integration of the arts with strategies promoting community health and well-being, and the overall improvement of capabilities within the arts sector. Grants provided through the NEA’s Challenge America support small organizations that extend the reach of the arts to underserved communities with rich artistic and cultural contributions.

 

NEA is awarding funding to the following: