Arts & Culture

WEBSITE

After 25 years and a pandemic, the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet has reorganized with a refreshed vision. While the world-renowned ballet company no longer performs, the organization continues to bring dance education and other live performances to Aspen and Santa Fe, along with its facilitation of shared resources and promotion of collective thinking within the field of ballet.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet History

In 1996, Bebe Schweppe, a former pupil of Robert Joffery, shared her vision of a ballet company in Aspen, Colorado. With the assistance of Tom Mossbrucker and Jean-Philippe Malaty, the small, unassuming company opened with seven dancers, offering an innovative and exploratory style that attracted emerging choreographers and dancers.

Santa Fe’s Lensic Theater was just completing its state-of-the-art renovations in 2000, and the ballet company took the opportunity to double its reach. The new company was called Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and it graced the stages of both its namesake communities – and countless venues around the world – with world-class modern dance and acclaimed debuts of striking original pieces.

Like many other ballet companies, 2020 and the pandemic challenges ravaged the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. The Board of Directors agreed to dissolve the ballet company to focus on the remaining programs as follows:

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Programs

ASFB Presents – This program brings outstanding dance troupes from across the world to perform at the Aspen District Theater in Aspen and the Lensic Theater in Santa Fe.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet School – From studios in Roaring Forks Valley and Santa Fe, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet School exposes students from toddlers to adults to a rich curriculum of ballet, jazz, and modern dance.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklórico – Founded in 1998 with the purpose of engaging the community with high quality arts outreach, Folklórico provides free after-school instruction in Mexican folkloric dance. Its award-winning ensemble performs regionally, helping to support the development of youth.

WEBSITE

The mission of the Juan Siddi Arte Flamenco Society is to bring enrichment to New Mexican communities through flamenco dance. The company has toured nationally and internationally, introducing old-world tradition with a new attitude.

Juan Siddi Arte Flamenco Society History

Juan Siddi launched his non-profit organization in 2007. Siddi has a rich background in choreography and dancing.

From the Juan Siddi Arte Flamenco Society Website:

“By 18, Juan was dancing and choreographing for Compañía Flamenca Alhama and Noches De Amor, performing in Vienna, Berlin, and Zurich at the prestigious Bienal de Flamenco in Sevilla and in a command performance attended by His Majesty Juan Carlos King of Spain. He then became principal male dancer with Rafael Cortés giving concerts for five years throughout Europe.”

Art of Flamenco
Siddi and his company embodies and continues the rich legacy of the art of flamenco. Each production is meticulously crafted and guided by the unique aesthetic of Siddi. The company includes artists from Spain and the U.S. and is a key player in the dazzling world of flamenco.

In addition to touring and outreach, Juan Siddi Arte Flamenco Society offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes in flamenco dance in both Santa Fe and Taos.

WEBSITE

Co-founded in 1994 in Santa Fe by Jacques d’Amboise and Catherine Oppenheimer, this not-for-profit grew from serving 100 children in one local school to more than 10,000 kids New Mexico annually. Offering in-school and after-school programs, summer camps and advanced training classes, kids can explore multiple aspects of the performing arts.

As one of New Mexico's most beloved organizations, NDI New Mexico knows that the arts are capable of connecting and inspiring children. Through its programs, children learn discipline, excellence, and a belief in themselves. NDI New Mexico embrace the Core Four values, encouraging children to do their best, never give up, work hard and be healthy.

The Dance Barns
Children ages 3 to 18 can attend high-quality dance and performance classes at The Dance Barns in Santa Fe, experiencing creative movement, ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, hip-hop, voice, and theater. Students take part in professionally produced productions which are popular community events. Classes are offered on a sliding scale.

Outreach and Advanced Outreach Programs
These programs provide arts and healthy lifestyle programs to underserved children in New Mexico, The advanced outreach teams offer additional learning opportunities to students after-school or on weekends, including advanced choreography, tap, jazz, and voice.

Statewide Residency Programs
NDI New Mexico makes available a certified NDI New Mexico instructor and pianist to teach at public schools.

Teaching Excellence®
This unique training developed by NDI New Mexico provides practical experience in the classroom for apprentice dance educators with 3rd through 6th graders.

HIP to Be Fit®
A health program delivering tools to teachers, students, and families to support New Mexico's children in being healthy and successful.

WEBSITE

Formerly known as the Santa Fe Concert Association, Performance Santa Fe seeks to “present and produce the best in performing arts, and to enliven the hearts, minds, and spirits of the community through artistic excellence.”

Performance Santa Fe is the longest-running performing arts group in Santa Fe. The group presents an array of music, dance, and theater performances. In addition, it conducts performing arts education for local students in Santa Fe.

Performance Santa Fe History
Performance Santa Fe has a rich history that started in 1937. Known then as the Santa Fe Community Concert Association, their first concert drew an impressive 775 people.

More than 1,000 events have been organized by Performance Santa Fe since its founding.

In 2020, Performance Santa Fe was forced to cancel its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It came back strong in 2021 with 22 performances.

WEBSITE

The Santa Fe Opera is recognized as one of the premier Opera venues in the United States and the world. Its Crosby Theatre is open on two sides and allows for dramatic evening views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east and the Jemez Mountains to the west.

Santa Fe Opera History and Success
In 1956, John Crosby founded the Opera Association of New Mexico. One year later he opened the Santa Fe Opera. Crosby wanted a space where American singers could act and sing with plenty of resources to prepare and learn. On July 3, 1957, the Santa Fe Opera held its first performance, Madama Butterfly, and all 480 seats were filled.

In 1967 the Santa Fe Opera theatre was destroyed by a fire. It was rebuilt, expanding the seating capacity from 480 people to 1,889.

In 1998, the theatre underwent a major reconstruction with seating capacity growing to 2,126 along with standing room areas. The modern design of the remodeled theatre created an instant Santa Fe landmark and was renamed in honor of its founder – the Crosby Theatre.

More than 2,100 performances of 172 different operas have taken place at the Santa Fe Opera since its opening in 1957. The Santa Fe Opera has held 20 world premieres, with original works premiering each season.

More Than an Opera
The Santa Fe Opera is more than a theatre. It is a campus. People who want to work in or learn the Opera trade come from all over the world to train in Santa Fe. In addition to the Crosby Theatre, the campus contains an orchestra building (Stieren Orchestra Hall), offices, rehearsal halls, a cantina, swimming pool, and shop.

WEBSITE

Santa Fe Pro Musica was established in 1980, to inspire people with “the performance of great music.” This mission continues through the presentation of chamber and orchestral music concerts that take place in historic venues in Santa Fe. Santa Fe Pro Musica also runs programs aimed at encouraging students to become more involved with music.

At Orchestra concerts, Santa Fe Pro Musica provides the public with opportunities to interact with guest artists.

Santa Fe Pro Musica History
Santa Fe Pro Musica was founded by musicians Carol Redman and Tom O’Connor in 1980. Since then, Santa Fe Pro Musica has been providing a variety of musical programs throughout historic places in Santa Fe.

Santa Fe Pro Musica has had 5 GRAMMY nominations and was awarded a 5-year affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution.

WEBSITE

The Santa Fe Symphony & Chorus is a full-sized orchestra along with a choral group of volunteers. The main venue for performances is the Lensic Theater in Santa Fe.

Santa Fe Symphony
The Santa Fe Symphony conducted its first performance on September 2, 1984 and has been doing regular seasons of performances ever since.

In 1986, the Santa Fe Symphony merged with The Chorus of Santa Fe to form the Santa Fe Symphony & Chorus.

Santa Fe Symphony Chorus
The Chorus of Santa Fe was a performing chorus group that was founded in 1979, merging with the Symphony 7-year laters. The Santa Fe Symphony Chorus is made up of more than 80 members. The Chorus performs a regular seasonal series and provides outreach and educational programs for the community.

WEBSITE

The Lensic Performing Arts Center features diverse local, national, and international performances. Events include concerts, theater, dance, events, and film. Every year The Lensic hosts more than 200 performances.

The Lensic History
The Lensic has been a part of Santa Fe since 1931. At the time it was “the city’s grandest movie palace and vaudeville stage.”

Many Hollywood stars made appearances at The Lensic, including Judy Garland, Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan, Yehudi Menuhin, Roy Rogers, and Rita Hayworth.

The Lensic was temporarily closed in the 1990s for a major renovation that cost millions, which turned out to be a successful investment in the Santa Fe cultural scene. Not only did the renovation help restore the original beauty of the building (while adding new advanced lighting, sound, and stage systems) it also created a professional venue for small local productions all the way to world-class international performances. Located in the heart of Santa Fe, it has become a community gathering place for arts and culture enrichment.

WEBSITE

Theater Grottesco is a unique theatre company in Santa Fe, continually living up to its slogan, “Experience Theater Different in the City Different.”

Theater Grottesco History
Theater Grottesco wasn’t started in Santa Fe. It was started in Paris, France, in 1983 by John Flax and Frenchman Didier Maucourt. Both were graduates of France’s Ecole Jacques Lecoq and past members of Minneapolis’ Theatre de la Jeune. Maucourt had written a two-person play for him and Flax. They tried to enter it into a festival but were told that entries could only come from a company. So, Theater Grottesco was born, and the play they had written won the festival.

Maucourt didn’t have an interest in running a theater company, so Flax and Elizabeth Wiseman, who had joined the theater shortly after it was formed, decided to move Theater Grottesco to the United States. In 1996, Theater Grottesco moved to Santa Fe.

Theater Grottesco’s Influence and Style
As of 2021, Theater Grottesco has created 17 original shows. On average, the theater produces one new show a year. The visuals and impact of the shows are more important than the written text. The theater aims to create productions that “are visual, explosive and full of surprise.”

In addition to 17 full length plays, Theater Grottesco has created 40 shorter productions, and performing them in 8 countries and 31 states. The group has won a plethora of awards including international recognition and two Drama Critic Awards. They have also won many prestigious grants.

Theater Grottesco tries to influence, inspire and engage audiences by creating productions that are daring and give “voice to the marginal elements of our contemporary society” while “taking audiences to the brink of emotional wonder and soulful reflection.

Theater Grottesco Residencies and Workshops
Theater Grottesco offers residencies and workshops that are based on the Lecoq technique. The theater explores many physical theatrical styles including Melodrama, tragedy, buffoon, ensemble storytelling, mask styles (including Baal), clown, Commedia dell’Arte, and others.

The Theater Grottesco studio offers professional workshops and master4classes to the public.

Theater Grottesco is a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization.

WEBSITE

The Santa Fe Playhouse is the oldest continually operating theater west of the Mississippi. The adobe theater that is home to the Santa Fe Playhouse seats 99 people and is in one of the oldest neighborhoods in the United States. The Santa Fe Playhouse strives to maintain and grow Santa Fe into a destination for outstanding and engaging theatre.

Santa Fe Playhouse History
Famed American novelist Mary Austin founded The Santa Fe Playhouse more than a century ago, in 1919. It was originally called The Santa Fe Players. One of the initial venues they performed at was the newly constructed New Mexico Museum of Art.

In 1929, the Santa Fe Players were hailed for their production of CAKE by Witter Bynner. The Santa Fe New Mexican offered its praises at the time for the production: “Never to be forgotten for fine craftsmanship in writing, for delineation of a famous Taos character and for the elaborate sets designed by Patterson.”

In 1933, The Santa Fe Players broke ground by creating a production made up entirely of women actors and a woman director in a play called “Woman of Character.” It was presented at the La Fonda on February 28, 1933.

In 1964, The Santa Fe Players moved into a livery stable which was renovated and turned into a theatre, and which they named "The Santa Fe Little Theatre." In 1983, the name was changed to the Santa Fe Playhouse.

Santa Fe Playhouse Open Door Policy
The Santa Fe Playhouse has an open-door policy that allows first time writer, actors, and artist to work with and learn from professionals.

Santa Fe Playhouse Productions
Every year the Santa Fe Playhouse presents 8-10 productions. These include the Fiesta Melodrama (which has been a tradition since 1919) and is an annual parody and roast of local news, politicians, and events. In 2020, due to the pandemic, the Fiesta Melodrama productions were released virtually. The Santa Fe Playhouse also produces Benchwarmers, another annual tradition where New Mexico writers and actors can showcase their talent. This popular event offers a collection of short 15-minute plays that are set on a bare stage. Bare, except for the actors and a single set piece: a simple park bench. The park bench can represent anything, and it has, in many creative incarnations through the years. Entertaining, funny, moving, and at times silly, Benchwarmers provides an always interesting experience of theatre, in bite-sized performances.

WEBSITE

Created in 2012, the New Mexico Actors Lab is made up of performance artists who are passionate about the theatre, human spirit, and social justice issues. In 2016, New Mexico Actors Lab incorporated as a non-profit and they have grown every year since.

New Mexico Actors Lab performs both prize-winning plays, along with original productions. They aim to do 4-5 productions every season. The plays they select are hand-picked to challenge the group’s actors.

Saving a Theatre
The New Mexico Actors Lab theatre resides at the former venue of The Adobe Rose and The Swan. As such, much of the internal construction and configuration was created for theatre productions. The interior was about to be dismantled when The New Mexico Actors Lab worked out a long-term contract that allowed everything to remain intact.

When not open for performances, the venue is rented with flexible seating configurations so that it can be employed for other uses other than performances, like a café.

WEBSITE

Hours :

Check for current hours here

Located in the Railyard, this small cinema opened in 1976 with a distinctive (especially for Santa Fe) Art Deco design. The famed “A Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin bought the theater in 2013, which was the beginning of its current incarnation. All types of films are screened here, from big studio hits to indie films, with an emphasis on the unusual and the creative. Movie-goers love the organic Amish popcorn with real butter, and full bar. The Jean Cocteau is available for rentals, to screen your own film, or throw a party. In addition to movies, the space hosts events for authors, musicians, comedians and magicians.

WEBSITE

Hours :

Check for current hours here

This family-friendly Regal theatre is in the newly updated Santa Fe Place Mall, on the south side of the city. Movie goers can enjoy the latest blockbusters, along with a variety of movies. Regal offers movie packs and discount tickets for the cinephile, and a concession card. Theatres are available for Private Watch Party rentals, for up to 20 people.

WEBSITE

Hours :

Check for current hours here

The Screen movie theater is located in the Center for Contemporary Arts, in central Santa Fe. The Screen has had a history at different educational facilities, including the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. CCA hosts The Screen in a partnership with the City of Santa Fe. This small, popular theater sports the latest in digital projection technology and screens avant-garde and classic movies, along with independent and international titles.

WEBSITE

Hours :

Check for current hours here

The Violet Crown is a step up from the traditional movie theatre. Moviegoers enjoy all kinds of yummy snacks, onsite dining, plus adult beverages. With a high-quality sound system and super comfy seats, the movie experience here is a departure from the ordinary. The Violet Crown kitchen prepares munchies like pretzels and fries, along with more substantial items like burgers, pizza, wraps, and Frito pies, all of which can be ordered in the lobby and enjoyed in the dining areas or brought to your theatre seat. These can be enjoyed with beer (they have an impressive, rotating selection) or various wines and hard ciders. The theatre is available for rental for business meetings, parties, or gatherings.

Hours :
Check for current hours here

El Rancho de las Golondrinas refers to itself as the Southwest’s premier "living history" museum. It’s a pretty accurate description considering everything the museum does year-round.

Annual Events at El Rancho de las Golondrinas

Here's a look at some of the annual events that take place at the museum:

Spring & Fiber Fest

This festival is a celebration of the arrival of Spring. Guests can watch sheep being sheared, interact with costumed villagers, and view and learn about animals native to New Mexico. There’s also dancing, music, and entertainment.

¡Viva México! Fiesta

This Fiesta is an annual celebration of the culture, food, music, and art of Mexico.

Harvest Festival

Every Autumn, the Harvest Festival provides fun opportunities for guests including making cider with an apple press, picking pumpkins, stomping grapes by foot, making harvest wreaths and enjoying syrup from a burro-driven sorghum mill. USA Today has named the event the “Best Fall Harvest Festival in the Nation.”

Herb & Lavender Festival

Who doesn’t love the smell of lavender and fragrant herbs? More than 20 vendors show up for the festival selling soaps, essential oils, lotions, art, plants, and food. There are also many hands-on activities during the event as well as lectures to learn more about herbs and lavender.

Fiesta de los Niños

Who doesn’t love the smell of lavender and fragrant herbs? More than 20 vendors show up for the festival selling soaps, essential oils, lotions, art, plants, and food. There are also many hands-on activities during the event as well as lectures to learn more about herbs and lavender.

Spirits of New Mexico’s Past

This annual Halloween event features hard cider, face painting, food, acting, tin working, workshops, and costumed characters.

Santa Fe Wine Festival

The very popular Santa Fe Wine Festival includes wine tasting, vendors, food and music, and features local Santa Fe wineries. Vintners are also available to answer any questions guests may have about wine and winemaking. Only those producing ID showing they are 21 or older are given wine glasses for tasting.

Santa Fe Renaissance Faire

Another popular event each year, where guests can cheer on sword-fighting knights, immerse themselves in the of life a Medieval village, dress in elegant finery, and spend hard-earned gold on shields, blades, cloaks, jewels, turkey legs, ale and mead, and other Renaissance-themed goods!

El Rancho de las Golondrinas Mission Statement

“The mission of El Rancho de Las Golondrinas is to preserve the legacy of the land and Hispano traditions.”

Hours :
Check for current hours here

Established in 1997, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is the largest repository of Georgia O’Keeffe’s art, projects, and personal items.

Who was Georgia O’Keeffe?

Georgia Totto O’Keeffe was a famous American artist who lived most of her life in New Mexico, her final years being in Santa Fe. She is often called, “the Mother of American modernism.”

Some of O’Keeffe’s most recognized works are her paintings of New Mexico landscapes, New York skyscrapers, and large flowers. Her work is considered innovative and timeless.

In 1977, O’Keeffe was granted the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Gerald Ford. Nearly a decade later she was given the National Medal of Arts by President Ronald Reagan. In 1993, O’Keeffe was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. O’Keeffe died on March 6, 1986.

The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

Currently located in downtown Santa Fe, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum galleries feature a rotating collection of O’Keeffe’s work and personal material.

Abiquiu Home & Studio

The Abiquiu Home & Studio is part of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, but it is located in Abiquiu, 53 miles north of Santa Fe. This was Georgia O’Keeffe’s main home in New Mexico. The home blends Spanish Colonial and Native American styles, and in 1998 was named a National Historic Landmark.

The New Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

Work on a new expansive Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is underway and expected to open in 2024. It will feature 54,000 square feet of space along with an acre of community green space. The new museum will be in the Santa Fe Historic District at the 100 block of Grant Avenue.

The reimagined campus will allow for additional collections, special exhibit galleries, increased capacity, more organized and safe storage of materials, and a space for public use.

Hours :
Check for current hours here

The IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is part of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), a public tribal land-grant college. The Museum collects, exhibits, and interprets contemporary Native art. The Museum has a collection of more than 9,000 Indigenous artworks that were created from 1962 to now.

IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts History

The Museum was founded in 1991 by the IAIA, and uses the acronym of MoCNA (Museum of Contemporary Native Arts). The Museum resides in the historic Santa Fe Federal Building, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Most people recognize it from the beautifully painted decorative columns outside the building.

The Museum has won many awards, including being named the 3rd “Best Art Museum” in the United States according to USA Today "10Best."

IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts Exhibits

A sample of contemporary Native arts exhibits by the Museum include:
- Art for a New Understanding: Native Perspectives, 1950s to Now
- CineDOOM: Narratives of Native Film and Beyond
- Connective Tissue: New Approaches to Fiber in Contemporary Native Art
- Lloyd Kiva New: Art, Design, and Influence
- Cannupa Hanska Luger Stereotype: Misconceptions of the Native American
- Stand with a Fist: Contemporary Native Women Artists

Allan Houser Art Park

This outdoor area, directly behind the Museum, includes a sculpture garden and the works of Allan Houser, who was one of the most respected Native American sculptors and painters from the 20th century. Houser was also a teacher at the IAIA. Houser’s vast array of inspiring sculptures rotate in this section.

IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts Traveling Exhibitions

The Museum has a traveling exhibition program that features works by leading artists while also targeting current issues. The traveling exhibition is available for booking by organizations with Fine Arts insurance and proper display areas.

Hours :
Check for current hours here

The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is dedicated to the collection and preservation of Native American art and culture. The Museum works closely with Native communities, with a focus on respecting Indigenous traditions, while inspiring an appreciation for the unique cultures of the Southwest. The Laboratory of Anthropology is part of the Museum.

The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is one of eight museums in New Mexico that is operated by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. It is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture History

The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture History has roots that go back to 1909 when an anthropologist, Edgar Lee Hewett founded the Museum of New Mexico to collect and preserve Southwest Native American items and material. In 1947, it merged with the Laboratory of Anthropology (founded by John D. Rockefeller in 1927).

In 1987, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture moved into new $2.7 million facilities, courtesy of the New Mexico legislature. For convenience, the Museum was built next to the Laboratory of Anthropology.

The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture Exhibits

Most of the exhibits at the museum are a rotation of its rich collection. However, the museum does have two long-term exhibits:

Here, Now & Always. This is a collection of more than 1,300 objects that also includes accompanying stories, songs, poetry and discussions. The exhibit documents the challenging landscapes and culture of the Southwest’s Indigenous communities.

The Buchsbaum Gallery of Southwestern Pottery. This is a collection of 300 ceramic pieces that were created by Pueblos of New Mexico and Arizona artists.

Allan Houser Art Park

This outdoor area, directly behind the Museum, includes a sculpture garden and the works of Allan Houser, who was one of the most respected Native American sculptors and painters from the 20th century. Houser was also a teacher at the IAIA. Houser’s vast array of inspiring sculptures rotate in this section.

Hours :
Check for current hours here

The Museum of International Folk Art was founded in 1953 and seeks to “present folk art in a context that can overcome ignorance and promote understanding.” The Museum was created by Florence Dibell Bartlett who believed that the art of a craftsperson serves as a bond between the different communities of the world.

Museum of International Folk Art Collections

With more than 130,000 objects from around the world, the Museum has the largest known collection of international folk art.

In addition to objects, the Museum has a diverse collection of documents and audio/visual material along with photographs. The collection of documents also includes artist notes, files, and information related directly to the collection of objects in the care of the Museum.

Museum of International Folk Art Exhibits

Since its opening, the Museum has done hundreds of exhibitions. A small sample of those exhibits included:
- Navajo Pictorial Weaving
- Behind the Mask in Mexico
- Decorative Arts of India
- Baffinland Eskimo Art
- Fiesta Costumes
- Swedish Christmas
- Folk Art of Japan
- Dolls
- Argentine Children’s Paintings
- Russian Icons
- Melanesian Art
- Thai Paintings
- Folk Art of Lapland
- The Idea of Folk Art
- Japanese Paper Dolls
- Costumes from Around the World
- #masks: Creative Responses to the Global Pandemic (ongoing to January 2023)

Museum of International Folk Art Multiple Visions: A Common Bond

One of the most popular exhibits at the Museum is a long-term one called, “Multiple Visions: A Common Bond.” Located in the Girard Wing, this exhibit features a collection of more than 10,000 objects from the collection of Alexander Girard. The exhibit features folk art, toys, textiles, and other artistic creations from more than 100 nations.

Museum of International Folk Art Shop

The Museum has a physical shop where visitors can peruse or purchase a wide variety of folk art and unique selections from around the world. The shop also contains a large collection of books on the subjects of global cultural traditions.

The Museum of International Folk is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

Hours :
Check for current hours here

Opened in 2002, the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art features a collection of Spanish Colonial art of New Mexico and beyond.

Spanish Colonial Arts Society

The Museum was launched by the Spanish Colonial Arts Society, which has roots tracing back to 1925 when it was the Society for the Revival of Spanish Colonial Arts. It was founded by writer Mary Austin and writer/artist Frank Applegate.

In 1998, a historic Santa Fe Pueblo-Spanish Revival style home was donated to the Spanish Colonial Arts Society to serve as a space for a museum. The museum opened four years later, in 2002.

Museum of Spanish Colonial Arts Exhibits

The Museum has one long-term exhibit that opened in 2021 titled, “Pueblo-Spanish Revival Style: The Director’s Residence and the Architecture of John Gaw Meem.” The exhibit highlights the history of the house that the museum is in, which was built by Meem in 1930. He was a renowned architect in the Pueblo-Spanish Revival style:

The Museum also features exhibits on other topics. Some past exhibits include:
- Mirror, Mirror: Photographs of Frida Kahlo
- From New Spain to New Art: Recent Acquisitions
- Chimayo: A Pilgrimage through Two Centuries
- Blue on Blue: Indigo and Cobalt in New Spain
- Trails, Rails, and Highways: How Trade Transformed the Art of Spanish New Mexico

Stockman Collections Center

Built in 2000, before the Museum opened, this addition to the Museum houses the Spanish Colonial Arts Society permanent collections and reference library. Researchers can access the center with a scheduled appointment. In addition, the Center loans out objects to reputable and established institutions.

About Founder Mary Austin

Mary Austin was a well-respected writer in the late 1800s and early 1900s. She spent 17 years studying the lives of the indigenous peoples of the Mojave Desert and was a strong defender of the rights of Native American and Spanish-American people. She visited Santa Fe in 1918 and loved the area. She helped to establish the Santa Fe Little Theatre which is known as The Santa Fe Playhouse today.

About Founder Frank Applegate

Frank Applegate was an established artist from the East Coast who moved to Santa Fe in 1921. He was particularly fascinated with the art of Native American and Hispanic cultures, and in no time, established himself in the Santa Fe art scene with his oil painting, ceramics, watercolors, and other art.

Hours :
Check for current hours here

Located in the Santa Fe Plaza, the New Mexico History Museum and Palace of the Governors provide a historic glimpse into the history of Santa Fe and New Mexico.

The Palace of the Governors

The Palace of the Governors was originally built in 1610 and is the oldest public building (in continual use) in the United States. For centuries the building served as the New Mexico seat of government. It is a National Historic Landmark and part of the National Register of Historic Listings.

Outside of the Palace of the Governors, Native American artists sell their handmade jewelry and other art and handcrafts.

Inside the Palace of the Governors, guests can view the Palace Press and interpretive galleries. The courtyard behind the Palace of the Governors connects it to the New Mexico History Museum.

New Mexico History Museum

The New Mexico History Museum is in the Pete V. Domenici Building. It contains galleries, and both permanent and new exhibits. It also stores the Museum’s massive object collection of more than a million objects, photographs, and documents.

Examples of some past exhibits of the New Mexico History Museum include:
- A Past Rediscovered: Highlights from the Palace of the Governors
- We the Rosies: Women at Work
- Gustave Baumann Santa Fe Holiday Card Display
- Atomic Histories
- Voices of the Counterculture in the Southwest
- Before Bataan: New Mexico’s 200th Coast Artillery
- Toys and Games: A New Mexico Childhood
- Altered Spaces: The Shrines of New Mexico
- New Mexico’s African American Legacy: Visible, Vital, Valuable
- Imagining Mexico: From the Aztec Empire to Colonial New Spain
- Santa Fe Found: Fragments of Time

New Mexico History Museum Campus

The New Mexico History Museum Campus is made up of the Palace of the Governors, the Angelico Chavez Library, and the Pete V. Domenici Building, which houses the Museum.

The Angelico Chavez Library houses two collections from the Fray Angelico Chavez History Library and the Palace of the Governors library and photo archives.

Hours :
Check for current hours here

The New Mexico Military Museum, formerly known as the Bataan Memorial Military Museum, is dedicated to the preservation and discovery of New Mexico's military past.

Types of Military Exhibits

Exhibits at the New Mexico Military Museum focus on different historical aspects of New Mexico military action. Examples of some exhibits the museum has presented include:

Art! Of War

An exhibit built around abstract and realistic interpretive artwork that expresses the history, life, and experiences of the military.

New Mexico’s Civil War

An exhibit that provides in-depth information and a timetable of the Battle of Glorieta Pass. This battle of 1862 was the decisive American Civil War fight for the New Mexico campaign. Some people have called it the “Gettysburg of the West.”

WWI Exhibit

This was an outdoor exhibit that included educational information on the end of WWI along with a recreated bunker like the one used by the New Mexico National Guard A Battery in Roswell. The exhibit also included replicas of a Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 biplane, a UB6 German Submarine, and the American WWI Meuse-Argonne Cemetery in France.

Types of Educational Military Events

The New Mexico Military Museum Foundation, Inc. hosts several educational military events every year. Most are free to the public, but they ask for a donation.

Many of the events the museum has presented are quite interesting, like The Ghost Army: Engineers of Deception. This event enlightened the public on the top-secret 23rd Headquarters Special Troops unit made up of engineers and artists. The purpose of the unit was to deceive the enemy in many ways. This included fake military vehicles, like inflatable tanks, and false radio chatter. They also used sound effects in an attempt to trick the military forces of Germany.

New Mexico Military Collections

The museum includes a large collection of artwork, documents, photos, maps, and artifacts related to the history of the New Mexico Military.

Hours :
Check for current hours here

The New Mexico Museum of Art opened in 1917 and seeks to create a dynamic connection between the community and art. The museum, located in downtown Santa Fe, is one of several state-run museums. Prior to being the New Mexico Museum of Art, it was known as The Museum of Fine Arts.

The New Mexico Museum of Art Building

The building housing the Museum is an iconic Pueblo Revival Style building in Santa Fe and was designed by architect Isaac Rapp in 1917. The outside of the building was created to reflect the style of the mission churches of San Filipe, Laguna, Cochiti, Acoma, Santa Ana, and Pecos. It was the first building in New Mexico dedicated to art.

New Mexico Museum of Art Collections

The New Mexico Museum of Art has a collection of more than 20,000 sculptures, paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, and mixed-media art.

The Museum has extensive collections of the Taos Society of Artists and Los Cinco Pintores (the 5 artists who moved to Santa Fe in the 1920s, helping to establish it as an art community).

New Mexico Museum of Art Exhibits

Museum exhibits generally celebrate the rich history and culture of New Mexican art while analyzing its bigger influence in the art world. Some past exhibits include:
- Horizons: People & Place in New Mexican Art
- Imagining New Mexico
- State, Setting, Mood: Theatricality in the Visual Arts
- Small Wonders
- Colors of the Southwest
- O’Keeffe in Process
- Building the Museum of Art
- New Mexico Art Tells New Mexico History
- Southwestern Allure: The Art of the Santa Fe Art Colony
- It’s About Time: 14,000 Years of Art in New Mexico

St. Francis Auditorium

The St. Francis Auditorium is part of the Museum complex and is a 450-seat venue for many events, festivals, and organizational activities. The auditorium displays many murals of St. Francis of Assisi. The space is used for weddings, music performances, award ceremonies, corporate events, and other gatherings.

Viewing New Mexico Museum of Art Collections

In addition to the Museum space, several works from the New Mexico Museum of Art can be viewed in other venues, including the public spaces at the New Mexico Governor’s Mansion at 1 Mansion Drive in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Hours :
Check for current hours here

The Santa Fe Children’s Museum was opened in 1989. It was launched by local educators for the purpose of creating learning opportunities for children through experiential learning that is different from learning in school or at home. It is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Santa Fe Children’s Museum Philosophy

The Museum strongly believes that the best way for children to learn is by doing. A participatory hands-on approach is used to foster learning in children, and connections with and within families. The Museum believes that play is vital in the process of learning and understanding.

Things to do at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum

1) The Backyard

This area features more than an acre of fun and interactive play, including outdoor exhibits, an outdoor educational garden, and an area just for toddlers.

2) Enjoy the indoor Museum

The indoor Museum space is full of hands-on activities and gadgets to foster learning. Each activity has an educational element

3) See what new exhibits have to offer

The Museum has revolving and new exhibits of interest for children. An example is Bug Windows by Book Arts Bugs that presents books as art in order to generate interest in reading. Book Art Bugs decorated two windows at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum to feature Nature Bugs and Urban Bugs. Material and art are used as inspiration. For example, a Mylar ‘waterfall’ filled with bugs was made from repurposed cookbooks.

4) Join a program

The Museum has weekly programs and special evens that are focused on experiential hands-on activities. The programs and events revolve around science, engineering, arts, technology, and math.

Access to All

The Access to All program at the Santa Fe children’s Museum strives to make sure that all children and families have access to the museum. There is a "Free Admission for Children" Thursday program, an admission assistance program, and there are always staff present that are fluent in Spanish.

Hours :
Check for current hours here

SITE Santa Fe is dedicated to creating experiences for visitors through innovative visual art presented in engaging formats. Opened in 1995, SITE Santa Fe is a contemporary art space with a focus on encouraging artistic exploration.

SITE Santa Fe History

Gallery owner Laura Carpenter came up with the idea of SITE Santa Fe in 1992. She was able to gather donations greater than one million dollars to renovate a warehouse near the train tracks, with an exhibit space of 19,000 feet.

SITE was originally envisioned as a space for a biennial contemporary art show and it had great success in that regard. However, the idea eventually expanded to include a space for ongoing contemporary art exhibits.

In 2016, SITE began a major expansion and renovation of its facilities which created an exhibit space of 36,225 square feet. The newly renovated building won three architecture awards: American Institute of Architects New Mexico Award, the Hamar Award for Contemporary Architecture, and the American Architecture Award.

SITE Santa Fe Biennial Exhibits

Biennial Exhibitions have always been at the heart of SITE Santa Fe. Here are the titles of the exhibitions since 1995:- Longing and Belonging: From the Faraway Nearby
- TRUCE: Echoes of Art in an Age of Endless Conclusions
- Looking for a Place
- Beau Monde: Toward a Redeemed Cosmopolitanism
- Disparity and Deformations: Our Grotesque
- Still Points of the Turning World
- Lucky Number Seven
- The Dissolve
- SITELINES.2014: Unsettled Landscapes
- SITElines.2016: much wider than a line
- SITElines.2018: Casa Tomada

SITE Santa Fe Reviews

In addition to the Biennial exhibits, SITE Santa Fe also has regular exhibits. The online reviews SITE receives are quite positive. Words often used to describe the experience are “brilliant,” “always interesting,” “informative,” and “cutting edge.”

SITE Santa Fe is known for the contributions of many talented artists to each exhibit.

Hours :
Check for current hours here

The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian was founded in 1937 by Mary Cabot Wheelwright and Hastlin Klah in order to display and preserve Native American arts. It was originally called the Navajo House of Prayer and House of Navajo Religion. The name then evolved to Museum of Navajo Ceremonial Art. In 1977 it became the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian.

Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian Exhibits

The Museum presents regularly changing exhibits on traditional and contemporary Native American and Navajo arts. To get an idea of the exhibit topics, here are some of the past exhibits:- Playing Cards of the Apaches and Navajo Pictorial Textiles
- Through Their Eyes: Paintings from the Santa Fe Indian School
- From the Railroad to Route 66: The Native American Curio Trade in New Mexico
- A Stirring Story: Navajo and Pueblo Spoons
- The Potters of Zia Pueblo 1700-2004.
- Historic Navajo Weaving, 1800-1900: Three Cultures
– One Loom
- Sky City Salute: Pottery of Acoma Pueblo
- Laughter and Resilience: Humor in Native American Art
- From Converse to Native Canvas
- Beads: A Universe of Meaning

Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian Collections

The Museum’s collections include papers of many noted scholars and artists and objects like jewelry, carvings, folk art, textiles, and basketry. These collections are from peoples of Native, Rio Grande Pueblo, and Navajo in New Mexico.

National Register of Historic Places Listing

The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian is in a building that was designed to look like a Navajo ceremonial Hogan. The walls inside the building contain symbolic carvings, sand paintings, panels, and art reflecting the Navajo religion. Because of the unique and historical importance of the building and the preservation and study of Navajo religion, the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 1990.