Artesia, Gallup and Mora are the newest members of the select New Mexico Arts & Cultural Districts family, having been selected through a competitive process in early 2014. The new districts bring the state’s group total to nine.
The Arts & Cultural Districts program was established by the Legislature in 2007 as a comprehensive economic development strategy designed to capitalize on the expanding “creative economy.” The dramatic rise of the internet, multimedia technology and smartphones enable creative expressions, commerce and programs that attract entrepreneurs and businesses to neighborhoods and communities.
Artesia has already made impressive investments in its cultural infrastructure. Artesia MainStreet helped restore the art deco landmark, the Land Sun cinema, as one of its initial projects in the late 1990s. More recently, community leaders have raised funds to convert the Ocotillo Theater to a performing arts center and build a new innovative public library showcasing a salvaged Peter Hurd mural. With a robust local economy based on its oil and gas resources, Artesia is intent on diversifying its creative and cultural economy for a new generation.
Gallup’s creative economy is built upon a strong trading tradition and proximity to Native American cultures, which include the Navajo Nation, Zuni, Hopi, Laguna and Acoma Pueblos. Today downtown Gallup is home to jewelry manufacturers, art galleries, western wear shops, restaurants and government. The impressive McKinley County Courthouse complex and plaza offers a spectacular venue for summer ceremonial music and dances. The historic El Morro Theater is expanding with a multipurpose meeting room and black box theater Annex currently under construction.
The county seat of Mora sits in a lush valley that nourishes a rich agricultural history anchored by the presence of several historic mills. Mora’s cultural district’s compact size led to its designation as a unique Arts & Cultural Compound. The Mora district is focused on the historic plaza, St. Gertrude’s church complex and the historic St. Vrain Mill, along with the Hanosh commercial block. The ruins of the original Mora County Courthouse form a picturesque backdrop for revitalization.