The Downtown Action Team is pleased to be one of the partners in the New Mexico Arts and Cultural Districts Program. This program is a unique joint effort between three state agencies and private entities. The Program goal is to promote the exceptional art and history of New Mexico while assisting communities in developing their cultural and artistic resources to create dynamic and economically vibrant districts. Forming Arts and Cultural Districts helps communities provide support to cultural entrepreneurs and institutions while capitalizing on the potential economic opportunity for the district as well as the town.

State agency partners in this program are the Economic Development Department’s MainStreet Program, the Department of Cultural Affairs divisions of New Mexico Arts and Historic Preservation, and the Department of Tourism’s Scenic Byways Program. Other partners are the Museum of New Mexico Foundation’s New Mexico Creates Program and the McCune Foundation. The New Mexico Arts Commission authorizes new Arts and Cultural Districts while MainStreet administers the program.

State-authorized Arts and Cultural Districts receive incentives such as assistance with developing cultural plans and enhanced historic tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic structures within the district. Each of the partners offers specialized assistance to the districts as well.

Six outstanding national experts graciously provided their time, energy and valuable input into making the Arts & Cultural Plan for Downtown Albuquerque. Brian Newman, Michael Killoren, Gary Steuer, Luis Herrera, Heather Hitchens and Barbara Fairchild were insightful, thought-provoking and provided invaluable information towards the formulation of the Arts & Cultural District Plan, which we anticipate to be completed by the Summer of 2013.

Albuquerque’s Downtown Arts & Cultural District National Speaker Series

Albuquerque’s Downtown Arts & Cultural District Creative Assets Map

 For further Arts and Culture information please visit our partner websites:

New Mexico Main Street is a grassroots economic development program that assists communities in revitalizing their traditional commercial neighborhoods. MainStreet works to help affiliated downtown organizations create an economically viable business environment while preserving local cultural and historic resources. The Program provides resources, education, training and technical services that stimulate the economic vitality of each participating community while celebrating local heritage and culture. MainStreet has been the premier organization that brings life to New Mexico’s downtowns since 1985, and currently serves 23 affiliated MainStreet projects and 6 state-authorized Arts and Cultural Districts. nmmainstreet.org

New Mexico Arts is the state arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. The 15-member, governor-appointed New Mexico Arts Commission serves as the advisory body. The primary function of New Mexico Arts is to provide financial support for arts services and programs to non-profit organizations statewide and to administer the 1% public art program for the state of New Mexico. nmarts.org

City of Albuquerque Public Art is administered under the direction of the Mayor of the City of Albuquerque. Art in Municipal Places Ordinance sets aside 1% of City construction funds derived from the general obligation bond program and certain revenue bonds for the purchase or commission of works of art. cabq.gov/culturalservices/public-art

New Mexico Economic Development Department is the leading center for economic information and news related to New Mexico’s economy and strives to be a central point of access for business, economic, and community development data. The Data Center provides County Data Profiles from a number of sources; Tribal Profiles; a searchable database of available commercial real estate statewide that includes demographic and other data in a GIS platform; profiles comparing New Mexico with the other 49 states; and New Mexico workforce data and economic indicators. gonmbiz.com

Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau strives to stimulate economic growth by marketing Albuquerque as a convention and visitor destination. The organization is a leading tourism marketing organization and enhances economic vitality and success through integrity, enthusiasm and creative involvement for the promotion of Albuquerque as a world-class destination. itsatrip.org

New Mexico Arts & Cultural District Program was adopted in 2007. The program is an inter-agency collaboration between the Economic Development Department, the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Tourism Department. It is directed toward place-based economic development focusing on the unique cultural and arts assets of each authorized district.

Creative Albuquerque is a non-profit provider of cultural data and strategies with the purpose of affecting policy that results in a vibrant creative economy. Creative Albuquerque cultivates and shares knowledge to illuminate, empower, and enrich our community. Creative Albuquerque is committed to increasing connectivity and shared knowledge, stimulating entrepreneurship and employment growth, championing supportive policy and identifying sustainable funding sources — all for the benefit of the creative community. We invest in creative entrepreneurship, partnerships, and education. creativeabq.org