IAIA News:
The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) has announced that Jason S. Ordaz, IAIA’s Chief Communications Officer, has been selected to receive the 2025 Santa Fe Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in the category of Arts Education. This prestigious honor, presented by Mayor Alan Webber, the City of Santa Fe Arts Commission, and the Arts & Culture Department, recognizes Ordaz’s remarkable contributions as both an artist and educator, inspiring and empowering students through the visual arts and storytelling.
In selecting Ordaz for the award, the committee highlighted his dual role as a visionary photographer and dedicated educator, stating, “His impact is visible across Santa Fe—in stunning photographs that capture our cultural heritage with precision, patience, and thoughtfulness, in the successes of the students he has mentored, and in the strengthened identity of one of our premier higher education institutions in Santa Fe.”
Ordaz, whose career spans over 20 years in photography, communications, and education, has significantly shaped IAIA’s visual identity and advanced its mission of promoting Indigenous arts and cultures. His work has garnered national and international acclaim, appearing in publications such as Vogue, The Smithsonian, The New York Times, Santa Fe New Mexican, Forbes, and many others. In 2018, Ordaz was featured on the cover of the Pasatiempo magazine as part of its “Unsung Heroes” issue, which celebrated behind-the-scenes figures whose contributions are vital to the arts.
IAIA President Dr. Robert Martin (Cherokee Nation) expressed congratulations, saying, “Jason’s expertise in writing and photography has raised the profile of IAIA not only in Santa Fe, but also in the state, region, and nationally. His passion for the creative arts makes him the perfect vehicle for highlighting the significance of IAIA’s contributions to contemporary Indigenous arts through our mission, programs, and accomplishments of our students and alums during the course of our 63-year history.”
In the summer of 2024, Ordaz accompanied IAIA students to the Venice Biennale, where internationally acclaimed artist Jeffrey Gibson (Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and of Cherokee descent) made history as the first Indigenous artist to represent the United States with a solo exhibition. The students participated in the IAIA Venice Indigenous Arts School, a week-long academic program that included studio visits, guided tours, and immersive cultural experiences. Ordaz played a role in documenting and promoting this historic milestone through photography, elevating IAIA’s global visibility. His photographs from the Biennale were later featured in the exhibition, Reflections of Venice, held at the Balzer Contemporary Edge Gallery on IAIA’s campus.
Jason S. Ordaz
Reflecting on the award, Ordaz shared gratitude, saying, “I am honored by this recognition and grateful to Mayor Alan Webber, the City of Santa Fe Arts Commission, and the Arts & Culture Department.” Ordaz further acknowledged the mentors and collaborators who have shaped his career. “I am especially thankful for the mentorship and support of IAIA President Dr. Robert Martin and former School for Advanced Research (SAR) President Dr. James Brooks. Their encouragement, guidance, and commitment to fostering creativity have been instrumental in my development as an artist and educator. I’ve also been fortunate to learn from and collaborate with so many talented artists and students at IAIA and across the Santa Fe community. And of course, at the heart of this honor is the unwavering support of my family.”
IAIA Board of Trustees Chair Beverly Wright-Morris (Unangax̂) remarked, “I am delighted to join in the celebration of Jason Ordaz as he receives the Excellence in the Arts award from Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber. His presence is felt everywhere during Santa Fe’s vibrant summer arts season. He not only documents through photography and videography the key moments of the IAIA commencement ceremony and Santa Fe Indian Market activities but also has an eye for capturing the subtle moments that reflect the true spirit of our community. As the Chief Communications Officer at IAIA, his commitment goes far beyond Santa Fe, New Mexico. Through his relationships and tireless work within the media world, he has elevated IAIA’s profile—connecting us to the wider, international arts community in meaningful ways. Congratulations, Jason, and thank you for all that you do to shine a light on IAIA and our students.”
IAIA has a long and deep-rooted history in Santa Fe, connecting the community with influential artists and supporters, many of whom have also received the Santa Fe Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. These distinguished honorees include Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday (Kiowa), celebrated author George R.R. Martin, philanthropist and IAIA Trustee JoAnn Balzer, renowned artists Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache), Lloyd Henri “Kiva” New (Cherokee), Darren Vigil Gray (Jicarilla Apache and Kiowa Apache), Dan Namingha (Hopi-Tewa) ’69, David Bradley (Minnesota Chippewa) ’79, dedicated supporters and IAIA Foundation members Connie Tsosie Gaussoin (Picuris Pueblo and Navajo) ’90 and Edward and Maria Gale, among others. Their contributions have shaped both IAIA and the Santa Fe and national arts landscapes.
The Mayor’s Award includes an honorarium and will be presented during a public ceremony and cocktail reception 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2025, at SITE Santa Fe. The event, open and free to the community, will feature video presentations highlighting Ordaz and six other outstanding honorees.
2025 Santa Fe Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts Honorees:
Godfrey Reggio, Arts Award
Jason S. Ordaz, Arts Educator Award
Brandee Caoba, Arts Innovator Award
Indigenous Ways, Culture Connects Award
Carlos Cervantes, Heritage Arts Award
Rune Shultz, Melissa Engestrom Youth Artist Award
Marilynn and Carl Thoma and Thoma Foundation, Philanthropy Award
About The Institute of American Indian Arts:
The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)—the University for Indigenous Creative Excellence—is the only higher education institution in the world dedicated to the study of contemporary Native American and Alaska Native arts. IAIA offers undergraduate degrees in Cinematic Arts and Technology, Creative Writing, Indigenous Liberal Studies, Museum Studies, Performing Arts, and Studio Arts; graduate degrees in Creative Writing, Studio Arts, and Cultural Administration; and certificates in Broadcast Journalism, Business and Entrepreneurship, Museum Studies, and Native American Art History. Recent partnerships such as those with The Walt Disney Company, Nike, The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), and NBCUniversal Media help students set down footprints in the creative community. IAIA serves approximately 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) Native and non-Native students, representing nearly 100 federally recognized Tribes. IAIA is among the leading higher education institutions in the nation and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).