May 10, 2016
State of New Mexico to Fund Centennial of Statehood Grants
A dozen or more projects celebrating New Mexico’s Centennial of Statehood will receive grants from a state planning group. The New Mexico Centennial of Statehood Steering Committee will accept applications from nonprofit organizations beginning August 15, 2010.
Applications will be received by the New Mexico Humanities Council (NMHC) which will administer the grants. Grants will range from $3,000 to $5,000, for projects occurring between September 1, 2010 and June 15, 2011. The Committee expects to support 12 to 15 grants.
The Steering Committee is a statewide collaboration created by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA). It has been working for the past five years to plan for statewide activities that will commemorate New Mexico’s entry into the union as the 47th state on January 6, 1912. Commemorative activities begin in September 2011.
Governor Richardson signed legislation this spring that supported Centennial activities in the amount of $270,000 to the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) centennial activities. Half of these funds have been made available to the DCA for 2010, with $50,000 allocated for nonprofit organizations seeking funding support for Centennial activities. A wide range of projects will be considered for funding, from public programs to written histories, creative and performance art, planning, and preservation. All projects must produce outcomes that are available to the general public.
Craig Newbill, NMHC Executive Director said, “Communities across the state have been meeting and planning for the centennial for some time now and these funds currently available for projects will be put to good use.” Newbill reminded applicants that, “Every good project opportunity starts with sound planning and a realistic assessment of the funding needed. Many plans end as a result of having neither.” Please feel free to consult with the NMHC staff about your project. Questions about Centennial grants should be directed to the NMHC offices at 277-3705. To download the application, go to nmhum.org and look under “Announcements.”