Ben Owen - Public Art Project Coordinator

505.827.6490
Ben.Owen@state.nm.us

Ben Owen is responsible for administration of the two biennial direct purchase initiatives, the New Mexico Only and the Acclaimed Artists Series, as well as statewide site-specific commission projects and the permanent collection loan program. He joined New Mexico Arts staff as a Public Art Project Coordinator in 2007.  Since that time he has grown the purchase initiatives from an average annual expenditure of $175,000 to over $930,000 in acquisitions during fiscal year 2010. Ben provides technical assistance to applicants using the CaFÉ system, and produces marketing and outreach materials for the AIPP program. He is a recipient of the Underserved Communities Scholarship to attend the Americans for the Arts 2008 Annual Convention, where he participated in a public art track panel presentation of “The Evolution of T.I.M.E. – Temporary Installations Made for the Environment.”

Ben completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Photography from the University of Memphis. His background is in gallery administration, commercial and fine art photography.