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.
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.
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.
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.
Application Deadline: Friday, February 10, 11:59 P.M.
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.
As a Main Street America™ Accredited program, DLCP is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. All Main Street America™ Accredited programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by Main Street America.
The City of Las Cruces has a well-established public-private partnership with DLCP. The partnership combines our respective strengths to support the growth of a safe, vibrant, diverse, and walkable downtown community. We seek to invigorate residential and business redevelopment through good planning and responsible, targeted investments. Our continuing collaboration is essential to promote downtown Las Cruces as a premier destination in the region.
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