Unleashing Opportunity from the Heart and Soul of New Mexico

Legislation Establishing the Division of Creative Industries Introduced by Rep. Szczepanski and Sen. Steinborn

SANTA FE – Today, artists, creatives, craftspeople, and entrepreneurs from across New Mexico joined Representative Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe) and Senator Jeff Steinborn (D-Doña Ana) in support of House Bill 8, legislation just introduced to establish a Division of Creative Industries within the State Economic Development Department to support the growth of economic opportunity among the full range of creative industries outside of film. 

“As we strive to diversify our economy, we must lift up the heart and soul of New Mexico,” said House Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski. “From flamenco studios; to potters and furniture makers; to tech, design, and architecture this division will unlock incredible economic potential in our creative and cultural industries, creating good jobs and a larger global footprint for rural, tribal, and urban communities throughout the state.”

“Part of what makes us the Land of Enchantment is because we are home to a rich diversity of artists, creatives, and cultural history that comprise the fabric of New Mexico. With Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe all just named among the best places to live and work for filmmakers, we are seeing the dividends from smart, targeted investments in the arts and creative industries,” said Senator Jeff Steinborn. “The Creative Industries Division will expand investment in our artistic and creative assets to support new economic development opportunities.”

Following a similar model as the Division of Outdoor Recreation established in 2019, the Division of Creative Industries would spur job creation and local economic growth by providing grants, professional services, infrastructure capital, workforce training, and business consultation to professionals and entrepreneurs in New Mexico’s creative fields. 

Aiming to spur statewide opportunity, House Bill 8 establishes that at least 50% of funding appropriated from the Division would be distributed to rural and underserved communities. 

“In McKinley County, 25% of residents—a majority of them Native American—make at least part of their living through the arts. This is an opportunity for the state to recognize one of its preeminent strengths and strategically invest in its heritage, its people, and its future,” said Rose Eason, Executive Director of gallupARTS. “It would be a game-changer for Gallup and McKinley County, taking our community’s largest cottage industry to the next level for the benefit of all.”

Today, New Mexico’s creative and cultural industry contributes $5.6 billion to the state economy and provides $2.4 billion in annual wages. With rich legacies in the fine arts, design, crafts, cuisine, music, and dance, the creative industries are without a doubt an economic strength for New Mexico with incredible untapped potential to expand. 

House Bill 8 lays out the scope of the division, proposing an operating budget of $2 million and a one-time appropriation of $67 million from the general fund to provide a funding pool to make targeted ongoing investments. 

“With targeted investments in this sector—similar to the successful investments that we have made in film—we can identify, enact, and scale the strongest ideas from all across our state, harnessing the potential that’s waiting for us in the minds and spirits of New Mexico’s deeply creative people,” said Lea Wise-Surguy, executive director of Cruces Creatives. 

“For a state so rooted in deep cultural histories and artistic legacies, it is beyond comprehension that a support and growth system like the one presented in this initiative does not already exist,” said Rose Simpson, renowned Santa Clara Pueblo-based multi-media artist. 

House Bill 8 has been introduced and assigned to the House Commerce and Economic Development and House Appropriations and Finance Committees.

The legislation has been developed in coalition with the Creative Industries Consortium, artists, entrepreneurs, and community organizations from around the state with a focus on rural New Mexico. 

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More Voices from New Mexico on HB 8, Creative Industries

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 Fleming, 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.”

Miranda Howe, Roswell
Bone Springs 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.”

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.”

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.”

Sabrina Pratt, Santa Fe
SVPratt, Creative Strategies
Owner/Writer 

“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 serves as well in the long run to nurture creativity and the creative economy especially in rural and underserved areas.”

Gregory Z. Smith, Las Cruces
Dona 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.”