After years of growth, Las Cruces is at a juncture where it can distinguish itself as a cultural destination. Arts, culture, and maker activities are percolating throughout the community, demonstrating creative production and artistry. Residents of Las Cruces value their contributions to the widely recognized arts and culture of New Mexico and are working to gain more recognition of their community, its history, and its unique cultural assets by imagining and implementing visionary creative potential.
OUR ROLE
The role that arts and cultural districts play in providing a vibrant and appealing environment is a major factor in retaining young citizens and their families, attracting a diverse, well-educated and creative workforce, and positioning the community as a cultural tourist destination. Arts and cultural districts bring citizens out from their homes and into a vibrant social space to interact and bond with their families and neighbors; and the community’s young talent is showcased and recognized as part of the cultural landscape.
The role that arts and cultural districts play in providing a vibrant and appealing environment is a major factor in retaining young citizens and their families, attracting a diverse, well-educated and creative workforce, and positioning the community as a cultural tourist destination. Arts and cultural districts bring citizens out from their homes and into a vibrant social space to interact and bond with their families and neighbors; and the community’s young talent is showcased and recognized as part of the cultural landscape.
CHECK OUT ACD'S PROJECTS
GENERATIONS
LAS CRUCES
FACADE SQUAD
ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE
VENTANAS VIVAS
PUBLIC ART
In 2014, an ACD Task Force was formed to explore opportunities to create an ACD in Las Cruces. The Task Force was anchored by the Doña Ana Arts Council, Downtown Las Cruces Partnership, and the City. In 2015, the Task Force re-formed into a cross-sector, 11-member ACD Coordinating Council and began developing the first “municipally-designated” ACD in New Mexico. The Council researched the designated New Mexico districts, national trends, and outcomes of other districts, and determined that the establishment of a unique cultural identity was paramount.
Transformation of downtown from the unsuccessful 1967 urban renewal to a thriving business, entertainment, and residential area has been underway since planning and studies started in 1994. The ACD Plan is a new layer that creates a vibrant social and economic space that extends throughout the Main Street area and the Mesquite Street Historic District.
GOAL
ONE
FOSTER
ECONOMIC
GROWTH
GOAL
TWO
IMPROVE
COMMUNITY'S
QUALITY
OF LIFE
GOAL THREE
HONOR
& PROMOTE
LAS CRUCES
HISTORY
& CULTURE
GOAL FOUR
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT &
IMPLEMENTATION
CHECK OUT OUR NEWSLETTER TO SEE WHAT WE ARE UP TO
Coordinating Council
Thank you for your interest in being part of the Las Cruces Arts & Cultural District Coordinating Council. Please take a few minutes to fill out this application and attach a copy of your resume/CV or bio.
*Please download and save the PDF to your computer for optimal functionality.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
CALL FOR WRITERS
Generations Community Writing Project is a program meant to bring together literary artists and provide a platform for them to create, share, and experience the vast literary talent in the community. For the program, eight writers will be selected and paired. Each pair of writers will be at least twenty years apart in age.
As a pair, the writers will determine the depth of their collaboration. Paired writers may write independently or together. As a pair, the writers will introduce one another and will share a 15-minute reading time, including introductions.
Writers will be given the theme of “unity” as a starting place for their compositions. Strict adherence to the theme is not required. Writers who write in all genres are encouraged to apply, including, but not limited to, prose, poetry, drama, and creative-nonfiction.
Application Deadline: Friday, April 8, 2022, 11:59 PM
CALL FOR ART
Fair in Art 451 is a gallery show designed to be a visual art component of the ACD Literary Arts Festival. The show’s name is a play on the classic novel and meant to bring awareness to the intersectionality of literary and visual arts while promoting the payment of fair market value for artistic works. All pieces in the show will be literary in theme and no work will be priced over $451.00.
Application Deadline: Thursday, May 5th, 2022, 11:59 PM
