NEW MEXICO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Contact New Mexico MainStreet with questions about ACD’s:

New Mexico MainStreet
NM Economic Development Department
Joseph M. Montoya Building
1100 South St. Francis Drive, Suite 1242
Santa Fe, NM 87505-4147

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 20003
Santa Fe, NM 87504-5003

(505) 365-3998
info@nmmainstreet.org

About the Arts & Cultural Districts Program

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 Arts & Cultural Districts Program promotes the exceptional art and history of New Mexico while assisting communities in developing their cultural and artistic resources to create dynamic and economically vibrant districts.

The Arts & Cultural Districts Program is a joint effort of three state agencies and private entities including New Mexico MainStreet, Department of Cultural Affairs divisions: New Mexico Arts and Historic Preservation, Tourism Department, and the McCune Charitable Foundation. The New Mexico Arts Commission is the state authorizer for new Arts & Cultural Districts while New Mexico MainStreet administers the program.

State-authorized Arts & Cultural Districts receive incentives such as assistance with developing cultural plans and enhanced historic tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic structures within the district. Each partner offers specialized assistance to the districts.

Support for New Mexico’s state authorized Arts & Cultural Districts is provided through a collaboration of:

Affiliated Districts

These New Mexico towns and cities embody the ideal that Arts & Cultural Districts strive to represent. Each community is rich in its own unique history and artistic expression. Las Vegas and Silver City were the first districts, authorized as Pilot communities in January 2008. As funding has been made available from the state legislature new districts have been added in Artesia, DowntownABQ, Gallup, Los Alamos, and Raton. Mora is the first Cultural Compound in the program, added in 2014.

Downtown ABQ MainStreet Arts & Cultural District (State-Authorized)
Albuquerque is unique among Historic Route 66 cities in that it is the only location in the US where old and new alignments of the classic road intersect.

Artesia Arts & Cultural District (State-Authorized)
From early pioneers and ranchers to oil entrepreneurs, Artesia has been at the center of culture and commerce in southern New Mexico.

The Pearl of the Pecos Arts & Culture District, Carlsbad (State-Authorized)
The Pearl of the Pecos Arts & Culture District in Carlsbad believes effective arts-based city projects go well beyond the idea of “art for art’s sake.”

Corrales Arts & Cultural District/Compound (Start-Up)
The Corrales Arts & Cultural District is an artisan district that aligns with the Corrales MainStreet District, the existing Corrales Business District and Corrales Road Scenic Byway.

Historic Downtown Farmington Arts & Cultural District (Start-Up)
The Farmington Arts & Cultural District is an artisan district that overlaps with the Farmington Historic Downtown Commercial District.

Gallup MainStreet Arts & Cultural District (State-Authorized)
Gallup has embraced a combination of adventure tourism and authentic cultural experiences along Historic Route 66.

Las Cruces Arts & Cultural District (State-Authorized)* Municipally-designated
The District has been hosting cultural events such The Prado in Las Cruces, and a three-month long exhibit of artwork from the Prado Museum in Spain which was featured in downtown Las Cruces.

MainStreet de Las Vegas Arts & Cultural District (State-Authorized)
With more than 900 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, the streets of Las Vegas are a living history museum.

Los Alamos Creative District (State-Authorized)
Los Alamos is renowned for being home to the world’s most creative scientific minds.

Mora MainStreet Arts & Cultural Compound (State-Authorized)
The Village of Mora, with a population of less than 2,000, is a pastoral community nestled in the Mora Valley of Northern New Mexico.

Raton Historic Downtown Arts & Cultural District (State-Authorized)
The growth of Raton as a railroad and mining town is reflected in its unique architectural heritage.

Silver City Arts and Cultural District (State-Authorized)
A town of only 10,000 residents, numerous galleries and art spaces speak to the richness of Silver City.