Arts and Cultural District Reports

In 2007, the New Mexico Legislature established the Arts and Cultural District Program, providing the state's communities with support in leveraging their artistic, cultural and historical assets to develop commerce, tourism and civic pride. The State program is coordinated by the MainStreet Program Director, with participation of the New Mexico Department of Tourism's Scenic Byways Program and New Mexico Arts. Thus far, six communities have been selected for participation in the program: Las Vegas, Silver City, Downtown Albuquerque, Los Alamos, Raton and Taos. Further information about the Arts and Cultural District Program can be found at the NMEDD website at http://www.edd.state.nm.us/artsCulture/intro/index.html.

UNM's Bureau of Business and Economic Research has been contracted by the MainStreet program to provide research and support in the development of the arts and cultural districts. Our work includes social and economic analyses of community arts and cultural programs and assets. BBER has completed work for four communities, linked below.