Local Arts Councils and Statewide Service Organizations

This category supports local arts councils that are incorporated tax-exempt organizations or agencies of government or Indian tribal entities and tax-exempt statewide service organizations that provide services to artists, arts organizations, or in the field of arts education.

Note: All Local Arts Councils and Statewide Service Organizations must apply in this category.  New Mexico Arts defines a local arts council as “a community organization or an agency of local government that supports cultural organizations, provides services to artists and arts organizations, and/or presents arts programming to the public.” A statewide service organization is defined as “an organization with a membership or constituency that spans the state; that offers services to artists, arts organizations, or in the field of arts education; that promotes the arts through advocacy efforts; and/or provides arts information services to the public.” Organizations with a statewide membership or constituency that provide presenting activities or are not primarily service organizations should apply in another category. Local arts councils and statewide service organizations provide one or more of the following services/activities:

• Advocacy (general arts advocacy, arts education advocacy, etc.)
• Information Services to the Public (arts calendar, publications, artists/organizations directory, cultural resource library, newsletter, website, etc.)
• Services to Artists (seminars/workshops, artists’ registry or listings, health insurance, etc.)
• Services to Arts Organizations (seminars/workshops, publicity/promotion/marketing, insurance, shared computers and office equipment, etc.)
• Grant Making (provide financial support to arts organizations, artists, arts educators, etc.)

Local Arts Councils may also offer one or more of the following activities:

• Presenting (exhibitions, performances, festivals, literature/poetry readings, film/video screenings, lectures, art classes, etc.)
• Arts Education Activities (artists in the schools, after school programs, summer arts camp, advocacy for arts education, designing arts education curricula, adult education, etc.)
• Cultural Planning, Community Development, Cultural Tourism (assessing the cultural needs of the community and mapping a plan of implementation, help local leaders better understand the impact of the arts on the community, work to increase the tourism industry in the community, etc.)
• Public Art (public art/percent for art programs, lectures, etc.)
• Facility Operation (gallery/exhibition space, performance space, etc.)