Four people in military uniform stand for a salute with the US and New Mexican flags inside of a gallery. Courtesy/Otero Arts
A group of people sit around a table with table-top easels and paint supplies while an instructor demonstrates at the front of the classroom. Courtesy/Groove Artspace
NMDCA News:
SANTA FE — Ten organizations are recipients of New Mexico Arts & The Military Mini Grant Program, which offers $2,500 grants in support of learning-based projects such as classes, workshops, or virtual art programs, or capacity building projects such as professional development and contracted consultant services for active-duty military and veteran audiences.
The 10 organizations receiving grant funding include CENTER, Groove ArtSpace, Heartstrings Theatre Company, Museum of the American Military Family and Learning Center, National Ghost Ranch Foundation, Otero Arts, Paws and Stripes, SouthWest Writers, Cultural Enhancement for Valencia County Elders, and Western New Mexico University Cultural Affairs.
“The arts offer unique pathways to healing, creativity, and positive self-expression. New Mexico Arts is proud to continue funding local organizations from around the state to develop and refine arts-based outreach to veteran and active-duty military personnel and their families,” said Michelle Laflamme-Childs, Executive Director of New Mexico Arts (NMA).
This year, five of the grantee organizations are new to the program and the grantees serve seven counties throughout New Mexico. Paws and Stripes, a non-profit in Albuquerque that provides animal-assisted therapy to veterans will develop a curriculum for art therapy workshops designed for women and non-binary veterans. Cultural Enhancement for Valencia County Elders will use the funding to bring interactive live-music events to veterans in that county. Heartstrings Theatre Company in Rio Rancho plans to conduct a focus group to better understand and tailor programs for military-connected families.
During the month of May, Otero Arts in Alamogordo will feature artworks made by veterans and their families in their gallery, as well as offer writers’ workshops and a partnership with a local clay studio.
“Otero Arts is now in its third year of military mini-grant funding for a multi-genre program called the Veteran Arts Showcase. The funding has helped expand outreach to more than 50 military-connected artists, writers, and musicians,” says Lori Arella, Otero Arts Veteran Arts Showcase Coordinator. “We have expanded from one to four veteran writers’ workshops throughout the year and this year we have developed a community partnership with a local clay shop and the local Veteran Services Office.”
The Arts & The Military Initiative is rooted in New Mexico Art’s mission to ensure the arts are central to the lives of New Mexicans. New Mexico has 141,558 veterans residing in the state with military retirees in all 33 counties. More than 22,106 Active-Duty service members, including National Guard, are stationed at one of five military bases in New Mexico, with 7,921 adult spouses and 13,132 children of these active-duty service members living in the state.
About New Mexico Arts
New Mexico Arts, the state’s federally recognized arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, administers the One Percent for Public Art program, awards grants to nonprofit organizations for arts and cultural programs in their communities, and provides technical assistance and educational opportunities for organizations, artists, and arts educators throughout the state. Learn more at www.nmarts.org.