New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, announced  that it has secured new funding from a national grant program to advance creative aging programs for older adults throughout New Mexico.
The Creative Aging, Creative Futures program is a joint initiative of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and E.A. Michelson Philanthropy. It builds upon previous initiatives that have expanded arts opportunities for older adults and strengthened leadership in creative aging. New Mexico Arts received $77,500 for the Creative Aging Partnerships Project (CAPP), which aims to expand high-quality arts learning opportunities for people aged 60 and older in the state.
“We are grateful to NASAA for the opportunity to offer funding support to organizations in New Mexico who want to build resources and programs to serve this important segment of our communities,” said Michelle Laflamme-Childs, Executive Director of New Mexico Arts.
CAPP will draw on national best practices by training teaching artists, strengthening organizational capacity, and fostering cross-sector collaboration. Over 24 months, CAPP will convene eight demonstration site organizations across urban and rural communities and provide professional development opportunities and resources. New Mexico Arts is one of 28 state arts agencies receiving awards from NASAA intended to reduce barriers and expand access to sequential arts learning opportunities for older adults.
The Department of Cultural Affairs administers one of the nation’s largest state museum systems with multiple locations across New Mexico including history museums, folk art museums, a space history museum, and heritage sites, according to the official website. The department employs about 500 staff members and benefits from approximately 1,000 volunteers who contribute roughly 70,000 hours annually. Its mission is to preserve and celebrate the state’s cultural diversity through management of arts, museums, historic sites, libraries, archaeology, and other cultural resources. The department operates under a Cabinet Secretary appointed by the Governor overseeing 15 divisions including museums and administrative services. It extends its museums and cultural programs statewide serving residents and visitors alike while offering services such as exhibitions, access to historic sites, preservation efforts, library resources, grants for the arts, and public education programs—all according to information provided by the official website.
For more details about new creative aging activities or NASAA’s initiative in New Mexico or nationally visit the organization’s press release.
