NM Department of Cultural Affairs offers many options for New Mexico veterans to experience arts and culture

May 25th, 2023

Santa Fe, NM – At the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA), we work hard to ensure that the shared cultural history and diversity of our state is accessible to all audiences across our 8 museums and 8 historic sites, particularly the military veterans who have served our country.  

Partnering with local, state, and national organizations to make sure that our programming is as available as possible to veterans and their families is a core part of NMDCA’s mission. As Memorial Day approaches, we’re highlighting a few ways we’ve made our programs, exhibitions, and events more accessible to the veterans who have ensured our nation’s security.  

NMDCA is a proud participant in the Blue Star Museums program, a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the U.S. Department of Defense, and museums across America. Through this program, our museums and sites will begin offering free admission to active-duty military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve, and their families beginning Saturday, May 20. Admission will remain free through Labor Day, giving military families a chance to explore the history and culture of New Mexico all summer. Additionally, NMDCA has partnered with the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services to offer free passes to all New Mexico veterans with a service-connected disability rated 50% or higher, enabling these veterans to access every NMDCA institution once for free. Find out more about this program and others serving disabled veterans at nmdvs.org/state-veteran-benefits.

Our commitment to veterans starts in our own department. Earlier this year, Arts and the Military made nine $2,000 mini-grants available to arts organizations and veteran-focused organizations through a short application process. These organizations were asked to propose programming that would create or extend opportunities for veterans and active-duty service members to engage with the arts. Southwest Writers Workshop received one of the mini-grants, and they’re preparing an anthology featuring more than 90 pieces submitted by 54 active-duty service members, veterans, family members, and caregivers. Arts and the Military has also prepared workshops designed to help every NMDCA division develop programming that helps connect military communities with the arts. 

Please visit nmculture.org to find more information on these and other programs we offer. 

Whether you are active military or a veteran, we thank you for your service. 

About New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs Created in 1978 by the New Mexico Legislature, the Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) is New Mexico’s cultural steward, charged with preserving and showcasing the state’s cultural riches. With its eight museums, eight historic sites, arts, archaeology, historic preservation, and library programs, NMDCA is one of the largest and most diverse state cultural agencies in the nation. Together, the facilities, programs, and services of the Department support a $5.6 billion cultural industry in New Mexico.