Art in Public Places
Click here to go immediately to the current listings for Art In Public Places Prospectuses:
The Art in Public Places program was established through the New Mexico State Legislature in 1986 as a means to administer 1% of capital outlay projects for the acquisition of public art. The 1% for Art or Art in Public Places program (AIPP) has expanded and diversified over the years to provide a greater variety of services and tailor new programs and initiatives to better meet the needs of New Mexico's communities.
AIPP Mission
The Art in Public Places Program successfully integrates community involvement as its cornerstone, resulting in educational, cultural, aesthetic and economic enhancement for all New Mexico by presenting an excellent, challenging and diverse collection of public art that improves the quality of life experience.
For more information see:
One Percent For Art
State agencies receiving capital outlay appropriations for construction or renovation of public buildings exceeding $100,000 are required to set aside 1% of the funds to acquire public art to be placed on, in or around that building. There is a $200,000 cap on any one public art project.For more information see:
1% Project Eligibility for Sites (pdf: 125 KB)
AIPP Policies (pdf:115 KB)
De-accessioning Policy (pdf:114 KB)
New Mexico's Public Art Collection
Over 2100 works of art have been placed in public spaces across New Mexico through the Art in Public Places program. Artwork ranges from realistic to abstract, traditional to contemporary, and includes a broad spectrum of art forms such as paintings, sculptures, photography, textiles, mixed media and cutting-edge technologically driven works. The collection is comprised of artists from a myriad of backgrounds and cultures representing the highest quality artwork that reflects the rich diversity of the state, the region, and the nation.Appropriations over $35,000 offer sites an opportunity to work closely with a community-based art selection committee to commission artists to create site-specific work or to incorporate artwork directly into the architecture of a building. AIPP project coordinators work closely with the owners and users of the building, as well as with the local community to facilitate the selection of artwork that enhances and complements the public space of the site.
For more information see:
Selection Process for Commissioning Artwork (pdf:154 KB)
Project Director Responsibilites (pdf:162 KB)
Local Selection Committee (LSC) Membership (pdf:111 KB)
Conflict of Interest Form (pdf:115 KB)
Purchase Only Program
In addition to commissioning 1% for Art projects, AIPP also facilitates the purchase of existing artworks to be placed in public facilities throughout New Mexico. This initiative creates the opportunity for sites receiving appropriations eligible for the set aside of 1% funds to choose from a variety of artwork initiated through a prospectus or "Call for Artists".
There are 2 parts to this initiative:
1. New Mexico Only Initiative 2 and 3 Dimensional: Sites purchase artwork from New Mexico artists for project amounts from $1,000 up to $5,000 in a variety of media and styles. This initiative was formerly known as the emerging artist initiative. To view the names of the artists and locations of the artwork purchased in 2003, please see:
New Mexico Only 2003 (pdf:85KB)
New Mexico Only 2005 (pdf:85KB)New Mexico Only Purchase Process (pdf: 133 KB)
2. Acclaimed Artist Series: In 2001, New Mexico Arts, Art in Public Places Program launched a purchase initiative through an open invitation to artists living and working in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah to submit both two and three dimensional artwork to the Acclaimed Artists Series (AAS). Sites purchase artwork from renown, recognized artists for project amounts from $5,000 up to $35,000. This unique program was developed to assist in diversifying and increasing the caliber of artwork in the State's public art collection by purchasing artwork from well known, established artists. To view the names of the artists and locations of the artwork, please see:
Acclaimed Artists 2002 (pdf: 11.2K)
Acclaimed Artists 2004 (pdf: 87K)Acclaimed Artist Series (AAS) Purchase Process (pdf:133 KB)
Purchase contract - Sample (pdf: 164 K)New Mexico Arts Permanent Public Art Collection
The permanent collection evolved from the Acclaimed Artists' Series in 2001. There were so many artists of national acclaim who submitted stellar artwork NM Arts decided to develop its own public art collection. The permanent collection is loaned to sites in rural/underserviced communities and public entities that either have not received 1% for Art funds or are ineligible. For more information about "borrowing" an artwork from the collection and view the pieces, please see:
Loan Agreement (pdf:141 KB)
Cultural Corridors: Public Art on Scenic Highways
Commemorating Historic Route 66 and El Camino Real, the Cultural Corridors program utilizes federal, state and local funds to commission monumental, landmark artworks in communities along two of New Mexico's most significant roadways. The Cultural Corridors program was a partnership between New Mexico Arts, New Mexico State Highway & Transportation Department and 10 local communities throughout the state. There were three phases to the Cultural Corridors program:Phase 1: Tucumcari, Gallup, Tomé Hill, Las Cruces
Phase 2: Grants, Moriarty, Socorro, Truth or Consequences
Phase 3: Albuquerque, Santa Fe
In 2003, New Mexico Arts administered its final 2 Cultural Corridors projects with the cities of Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Napa Valley, CA, public artist sculptor, Gordon Huether created "Aluminum Yucca" located on the north side of I-40 traveling west from Tijeras Canyon into Albuquerque. The unique, eye-catching sculpture is made from recycled, spent jet fuel tanks. Catherine Widgery, public artist from Massachusetts, created 2 sculptures commemorating the Camino Real in Santa Fe. The locations are Frenchy's Field and DeVargas Park.In May 2003, the program was one of 8 national winners of the prestigious "Best Practices for Byways" award by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Information Services
AIPP offers assistance and resources to artists and others through the Artspeak published four times a year. AIPP provides personalized technical assistance, an expansive artist database, and an array of opportunities for public artists. Competitions for public art projects and other AIPP programs are announced through press releases sent to news media and other organizations inside and outside the state.The Copyright law can be found on the Copyright Office website. The Fair Use provision is Section 107. Click here to go to the website.
To contact AIPP, please email: aipp@oca.state.nm.us or call 1-800-879-4278 (instate) or 505-827-6490.
New Mexico Arts - A Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs
P.O.Box 1450 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-1450
Tel: 505-827-6490 • Fax: 505-827-6043 • Instate: 1-800-879-4278