New Mexico is investing $463,577 in its creative economy, awarding grants to nine organizations that help entrepreneurs grow and sustain creative businesses statewide.
The awards will support access to business services, technical assistance, and professional development for creative entrepreneurs across the state.
In this inaugural round of applications, the state’s Creative Industries Division received more than 100 applications for the Creative Support Organization Grant Program, reflecting the huge demand for support for New Mexico’s creative economy.
Awardees for the newly established annual grant program were chosen based on their proven track record of supporting creative industries through technical assistance, workforce development, business incubation, and ecosystem building. These organizations represent a diverse mix of geographic regions, creative industry clusters, and organizational models.
“Creative industries play an increasingly important role in New Mexico’s economy, and these grants invest in organizations that support creative business growth statewide,” said EDD Cabinet Secretary Rob Black. “The awardees provide the on-the-ground support that helps creative entrepreneurs succeed.”
"Creative support organizations are the connective tissue of our creative economy,” said Shani Harvie, director of the Creative Industries Division. “From technical assistance and workforce development, to access to space, tools, and legal services, these awardees are building systems that allow creatives to thrive across New Mexico."
2025 Creative Support Organization Grant Awardees:
- 516 ARTS (Albuquerque) was awarded $62,500 to advance its artist-in-residency program by supporting affordable studio access, paid public programming, professional development, and exhibition opportunities for resident artists.
- Arts Hub (Statewide / Albuquerque) was awarded $62,500 to deliver Adult and Youth Creative Fellowships, in-person workshops, webinars, and no-cost technical assistance to support creative entrepreneurs and arts nonprofits with business planning, marketing, grant writing, and professional services statewide.
- CENTER (Santa Fe / Statewide) was awarded $32,755 to provide statewide workshops and a digital lab focused on photographic printing and business development, helping photographers diversify income streams through high-quality print products and professional marketing tools.
- Contigo Immigrant Justice (Bernalillo and Santa Fe Counties) was awarded $62,500 to expand legal representation and outreach for immigrant creatives, removing immigration barriers that limit work authorization, touring, vending, and business growth.
- Clovis MainStreet (Clovis / Eastern NM) was awarded $62,500 to expand creative entrepreneur training, makers markets, youth entrepreneurship programming, and marketing efforts that support small creative businesses and downtown revitalization.
- gallupARTS (Gallup / McKinley County) was awarded $19,722 to deliver a Creative Entrepreneurship Cohort that provides local artists and creative entrepreneurs with structured business training, peer learning, and ongoing professional support.
- Los Alamos Makers (Los Alamos / Northern NM) was awarded $40,000 to expand hands-on training, shared fabrication tools, and business mentorship that help creatives turn digital designs into market-ready products and sustainable creative enterprises.
- New Mexico State University Department of Art (Las Cruces / Southern NM) was awarded $62,500 to strengthen and expand its Digital Craft Labs, providing access to advanced fabrication tools, workforce training, public workshops, and business incubation support for creative entrepreneurs.
- OffCenter Community Arts (Albuquerque) was awarded $58,600 to expand its New Works, Mural Mentorship, and Gallery Ready programs, providing layered professional development, mentorship, and market access for early- and mid-career artists from historically underserved communities.
The program is set to return in the fall of 2026. For more information, visit the Creative Industries Grants page at EDD.NewMexico.gov/CID-grants.