Gallup MainStreet Arts & Cultural District and Economic Development

By Michael Bulloch, Executive Director, Gallup MainStreet Arts & Cultural District

Gallup MainStreet Arts & Cultural District (GMSACD) is a local non-profit that works in partnership with the City of Gallup and under the umbrella of the New Mexico MainStreet Program, which is part of the New Mexico Economic Development Department. There are approximately 36 MainStreet districts in New Mexico and we all work within the framework of Main Street America. GMSACD is here to help small locally owned independent businesses that are located within the MainStreet District of Historic Downtown Gallup. 

Unlike more traditional methods, we work in asset-based economic development, which means that we look for existing assets, local entrepreneurs, businesses, and historic buildings, in downtown Gallup and we work to improve them. If it’s an entrepreneur looking to start a business we help them with training programs and other services, if it’s an existing business we help promote them and raise awareness of their business, and if a property owner is trying to rehabilitate their historic building we work to help them rehabilitate the properties and find good businesses to move in. 

We also work on events in the district that attract visitors to the downtown area and assist the City in planning, designing, and raising funds for large infrastructure and creative placemaking projects like the newly renovated Coal Avenue Commons and the Coal Avenue Alley/Paseo improvements. Another smaller example of creative placemaking is our partnership with gallupARTs creating the Tiny Art Project. The Tiny Art Project set out to “fix” problems in the built environment with small art installations. Inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi that uses Urushi lacquer dusted with gold, silver, or platinum to repair broken pottery. We chose 6 artists to create small works of art that “fixed” an issue on public property or right-of-way. The 6 projects are scattered throughout downtown Gallup. 

Currently, we are working on our 3rd full season of the Levitt AMP Gallup Music Series brought to you in part thanks to a generous grant from the Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation, which believes that by providing free outdoor concerts in underutilized spaces, we can bring people together in a fun and safe environment. Part of the goal for GMCACD is to bring positive programming to the Downtown Courthouse Square and entice people to spend more time in downtown Gallup. This year we have an exciting line-up every Saturday evening June 8 – August 10, 7:00 – 10:00 pm. Also, on August 10, we will be starting with many local bands at noon right after the Saturday Ceremonial Parade. 

Another large project that GMSACD has undertaken is to add improvements to the Courthouse Square in response to its increased use as an event space. Additionally, we are working on enhancing the connection between the Square and Coal Avenue Commons via the walkway. We have been working with New Mexico MainStreet Revitalization Specialists Amy Bell and Richard Perce of Groundworks Studio have been working on conceptual planning for improvements such as shade structures, soft-scaping, and other ideas to make the Square a more pleasant place to spend time. 

As part of the soft-scaping which is adding more plant materials to the square to help reduce heat, we have been working with a group of kids, from Hózhó Academy, who are interested in creating pollinator gardens throughout Gallup. 

Finally, as part of the Downtown Business Resource Center located at the GMSACD office at 205 W. Coal Avenue, we are starting the Fun Sized pop-up store windows. We are starting this to help local entrepreneurs who want to try selling their handmade products in a commercial setting. If you are unfamiliar with the Downtown Business Resource Center we have a collection of photography and video production equipment to help create collateral for local makers. We also have many training workshops available through our website that they can watch to help create marketing materials. GMSACD is also in the process of working with New Mexico MainStreet in starting a Media Maker’s Space within the Resource Center to enable people to create podcasts and other types of media to promote their businesses or as a side hustle. 

These are a few of the many projects we have worked on. To learn more about GMSACD please contact director@gallupmainstreet.org or 505.879.0366.