Map of New Mexico Music Commission 2025 Awardees. Courtesy/NMMC
NMMC News:
SANTA FE – From an Afro-Latin music festival in Albuquerque to traditional New Mexican folk-dance performances for communities of the Manzano Mountains to street music and dance in downtown Artesia, 13 organizations across the state will receive funding from the New Mexico Music Commission (NMMC) to bring unique and engaging musical programs to their communities.
NMMC launched the Music in the Community Grants Program this year with a focus on rural, tribal, veteran, disability, and other underserved communities.
“We are dedicated to creating opportunities for musicians and enriching lives through the power of music and the magic of live performances,” Music Commission Chair Carlos Medina said.
The 13 organizations receiving a combined $32,500 in grant funding include Carrizozo Music, Inc., El Morro Area Arts Council, IndigenousWays, Just Play, Music from Angel Fire, Queen Bee Music Assoc., Silver Consolidated Schools, AfroMundo.org, Aztec Museum Association, Classical 95.5 KHFM, Dolores Gonzales Elementary School, Artesia MainStreet Arts and Cultural District and Manzano Mountain Art Council.
Awardees will use the funding to support a variety of music programs, including individual and group performances, music series, festivals, instrument workshops, school sound system upgrades, and other engagement opportunities.
Loida Maritza Perez, Executive Director of AfroMundo, a non-profit that offers community-building arts and humanities programs to build solidarity and civic engagement amongst Afro-Latinx, Afro-Indigenous, Afro-Asian, BIPOC, and 2SLGBTQIA+ peoples said, “AfroMundo is delighted to be awarded a New Mexico Arts grant. This grant will enable us to continue to culturally enrich New Mexico via our next annual, weeklong AfroMundo Festival scheduled for April 12-19, 2025.”
In Mora, the Queen Bee Music Association will support free music programs. Two and a half years after the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire, community members are still dealing with cleanup, insurance claims, and processing the trauma, so these programs offer residents an outlet to heal through music.
“We are so excited to be a recipient of this grant award to help increase music programs in rural New Mexico,” said Lindsay Taylor, Executive Director of Queen Bee Music Association. “Our award will directly support free music jams and youth education in Mora, in partnership with local nonprofit Collins Lake Ranch.”
For the Aztec Museum & Pioneer Village, the funding will support their annual “Music at the Museum” concert series. This program provides free public concerts in the museum’s nostalgic Pioneer Village and showcases different eras of music ranging from early traditional Hispanic to Fleetwood Mac.
Silver Consolidated Schools in Silver City introduced a new music program for PreK through 6th grade in the 2024-25 school year. The district currently shares one PA system amongst all the district schools. With this funding, the district will be able to purchase and install PA systems at each individual campus, allowing musical programs in the district to be fully supported and enjoyed.
Through these grants, NMMC hopes communities will foster appreciation and value of music, as well as provide educational and creative outlets for people of New Mexico to participate. To learn more about the Music in the Community Grants Program visit newmexicomusic.org.
About New Mexico Music Commission (NMMC)
NMMC, a governor-appointed body, protects, promotes, and preserves the musical traditions of New Mexico. The Commission consists of a cross-section of New Mexico citizens representing all facets of the state’s unique and diverse music industry. NMMC is administrated by New Mexico Arts, the state’s federally recognized arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs.