Testimonies

Raashan Ahmad, Santa Fe

Vital Spaces, Co-Founder

Earth seed Black Arts Alliance

As a member of the arts community, city arts commissioner, and executive director who works
at the intersection of arts, culture, and community, I see up close the desperate need for investment in
the creative economy. Too many creatives are left out of this sector because of economic barriers although the talent and interest are there. Please support this bill.

Aline Castelan, Santa Fe

The Semilla Project and Dreams in Action NM
Campaign and Project Director

Our organizations have been working hard to develop robust programs by and for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) that reflect the needs of our communities. We know New Mexico is ready to advance in its creative industries as we’ve seen it in our initiatives of diversifying career paths through our mentorships. This initiative and funding is an opportunity to uplift the voices of our members and brings to the forefront our community genius.

Nancy Flemming, Roswell

Miniature and Curious Collections Museum
Co-Founder

Since opening some five years ago, our community museum already needs to expand! We have successfully re-purposed an historic Roswell building. We have just received approval to purchase a city owned- building next door. After extensive renovations, this new space will provide a permanent community workshop area and more museum space. The arts and culture in our community are alive and well, BUT desperately need all the possible resources to continue our vitality and growth.

Gabriel Tomas Mendez, Taos

El Campo Clothing Company
Owner/Designer

As a creative industries small business owner in rural Taos, I can see firsthand the urgent need for investment in New Mexico’s creative economy. Although the state is a national art market, opportunities in economic development, education, vocational training, and small business support in the creative industries are disproportionately lacking. A fully funded Creative Industries Division is an elegant and effective solution to address issues in the creative
economy.

Gregory Smith

Doña Ana Arts Council
Executive Director

We often make the mistake of thinking that art and industry are mutually exclusive. We too often make a similar mistake and exclude art from our dialogue about educating for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. House Bill 8 will help correct these mistakes. With "creative industries” we see the natural place art holds in the cultural industry and its relationship to science, math, and technology. HB8 will firmly establish a powerful future for New Mexico arts and culture and the entrepreneurs of the future.

Sabrina Pratt

SVPratt, Creative Strategies
Founder

New Mexico has an unusual depth of creativity and the time is right to make a big investment in the arts for the benefit of all New Mexicans. It serve as well in the long run to nurture creativity and the creative economy especially in rural and underserved areas.

Diana Molina, La Union

Crosswords Art and Ecology Lab, Founder
NM Advocates for the Arts, Board Member
Artist, Curator, Writer
2022 NM Magazine True Hero

The establishment of a Creative Industries Division would engender a much needed paradigm shift to support artists, and the meaningful work necessary to empower all communities with economic, social, environmental, and cultural transformation especially in the underserved and underfunded rural border community in Southern New Mexico, La Union, in which I live and work. Our cultural coalition is rooted in advocacy, inclusion, and has a commitment to feature the commemorative landscape in art, music, and performance.

Miranda Howe, Roswell

Bonesprings Art Space

Artist/Owner

The Bone Springs Art Space is an art gallery, studio rental, teaching facility, event rental, and gift shop highlighting local arts and crafts, all housed in a renovated century-old red-brick warehouse in the industrial side of Roswell. As an artist, entrepreneur and small business owner, increased funding within the state would be crucial to helping provide additional growth in our community focused on arts, culture, and the creative economy.