3 New Mexico Communities Named as Art, Culture Districts

Article By: krqe.com

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — There are three new arts and culture districts in New Mexico.

Gallup, Mora and Artesia were selected by the New Mexico Arts Commission after a competitive application and review process. They mark the first arts and culture district programs authorized by the commission since 2009.

Existing districts include Las Vegas, Silver City, Albuquerque, Los Alamos, Raton and Taos.

Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela says Gov. Susana Martinez and state legislators provided new funding to expand the program.

Among the benefits for districts is a doubling of state historic tax credits to renovate eligible properties and branding in larger statewide tourism campaigns.

State officials say art and culture pump more than $3.3 billion into the economy and support about 60,000 jobs.

Barela says rural communities, in particular, depend on cultural tourism.