Member Spotlight on New Mexico Arts

Submitted by SuJ'n on September 1, 2016

For the month of September, GIA’s photo banner features projects supported by New Mexico Arts, New Mexico’s state arts agency. New Mexico Arts is advised by a 15-member, governor-appointed arts commission. It provides financial support for arts services and programs to non-profit organizations and administers the 1% pubic art program statewide.

Quality arts education is one of many programmatic commitments for New Mexico Arts. The agency is committed to supporting arts education, primarily through funding organizations that fill gaps in school program funding. In the current fiscal year, 25 organizations share almost $150K for in-school and after-school programming concentrated in dance, theatre, and professional development for teachers.

“I am very fond of these organizations and impressed with their intelligence and tenacity,” said Arts Education Program Coordinator Phyllis Kennedy. “I’m especially impressed with those that professionally assess their programs.”

Kennedy noted three New Mexico organizations that have done exceptional jobs assessing student learning and program evaluation. National Dance Institute - New Mexico was assisted by RMC Research Corporation, Denver and the UNM Center for Education Policy Research, Albuquerque. Partners in Education for the Santa Fe Public Schools contracted with the UNM Department of Economics & Institute for Social Research for their reports. The directors, staff, and volunteers of the Harwood Museum invested in designing a Logic Model for their Art in the Schools program, identifying inputs/resources, activities, outputs, and short and long term outcomes.

Evaluation plays a key role to advocacy efforts and contributes to organizational sustainability. “We are gathering good New Mexico data,” said Kennedy. “New Mexico data is what helps our organizations and influences our state’s decision makers.”

Learn more about New Mexico Arts' programs.

New Mexico Arts has been a GIA member since 2012.

You can also visit the photo gallery on the Photo Credits page.