By Jessica Stern, Economic Development Director, Taos

Taos County was among 18 recipients of the inaugural Creative Industries grant award funded by the New Mexico Economic Development Department. The grants flow from House Bill 8, passed during the 2023 Legislature, that establishes the Creative Industries Division as part of the Economic Development Department. The newly announced grants will catalyze local communities and tribes to stimulate advancement or economic development through creative industries. A total of $1.8 million was awarded.

Taos County’s project is a two-pronged program that will expand upon and continue a youth internship program currently underway at the Taos Center for the Arts (TCA) that places young people in paid internships with arts and cultural organizations. The second part of the project will offer three in-person, weekend-long business development workshops across the County for artists and creative entrepreneurs between January-May 2024. The Taos Arts Council will administer the various projects within the grant, including hiring a part-time Project Coordinator. Taos County and the Taos Arts Council are working with the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) through their Artist Inc Express program to deliver the three creative entrepreneur training workshops. 

The Chamber of Commerce will be an important partner throughout both pieces of the grant project to cultivate and support the network of both youth interns who may be interested in further career development in the arts, and the creative entrepreneurs who are seeking to build relationships with the broader business community. Taos County is committed to equitable access to the business development workshops, and has dedicated funds in the grant budget for transportation, child and/or elder care, and other needs that may arise that would otherwise prohibit individuals from participating and advancing their creative practices. 

The two project pieces will offer a continuum of direct workforce development opportunities that build the capacity of the County’s cultural institutions for the long term, helping create a trained and sustainable workforce to enhance the fabric of its creative community. The workshops are specifically designed to serve artists and creative entrepreneurs from across disciplines and at all points in their career trajectories. 

This opportunity will also allow Taos County and partners to explore the long-term viability of establishing its own creative entrepreneur program that could be led and operated locally, with revenue-generating opportunities for local partners. This initial grant funding is a unique moment to provide high-quality training for local businesses, work-learning experiences for youth, and the County’s own education as service providers to ensure business and workforce development programs such as these for the foreseeable future.