NMDCA News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Arts, the state’s arts agency, announces recipients of 2024 “Arts and the Military” Mini Grant program.

This 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.

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; and
• Build capacity among New Mexico organizations to offer arts programs for military-connected participants.

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. Proposals were received from 19 organizations across the state seeking support.

Congratulations to the following organizations:

• Albuquerque
  • SouthWest Writers
  • Flamenco Works
• Santa Fe 
  • Santa Fe Children’s Museum
  • Center
• Abiquiu
  • Ghost Ranch National Foundation 
• Farmington
  • KSJE’s Native Art Veteran Voices of the Four Corners 
• Alamogordo 
  • Otero Arts Center 
• Peralta
  • New Mexico Veteran Art 
• Silver City
  • WNMU

“The Arts & The Military Initiative is rooted in New Mexico Arts’ mission to ensure the arts are central to the lives of New Mexicans,” New Mexico Arts Executive Director Michelle Laflamme-Childs said. “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 & 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.”

New Mexico has 141,558 veterans residing in the state with military retirees in all 33 counties. 8.8% 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.

For more information, contact Arts & The Military Program Coordinator Kevin Lenkner at 505.412.5791 or email kevin.lenkner@dca.nm.gov.

About New Mexico Arts   

New Mexico Arts is the state arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. New Mexico Arts administers the state’s One Percent for Public Art program, awards grants to nonprofit organizations for arts and cultural programs in their communities across the state, and provides technical assistance and educational opportunities for organizations, artists, and arts educators throughout New Mexico.