AIPP Mission Statement

The Art in Public Places program enriches New Mexico’s public spaces through an innovative and diverse public art collection.

Since its inception in 1986, the program has placed almost 3,000 works of art in all of New Mexico’s 33 counties. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of the arts in New Mexico, the Southwest, and the nation while building a dynamic public art collection for the State of New Mexico.

Through a fair and open public process, committees made up of local and regional representatives work with New Mexico Arts staff to select artwork for their communities. The Art in Public Places program also commissions large-scale projects that are designed for integration directly into the architecture of a building, or purchases existing original artwork to be placed in public buildings permanently or on loan.

Project Intent

The goal of the 2022 US Native and Indigenous Artists Purchase Initiative is to diversify the state's public art collection by purchasing artwork from Native or Indigenous artists in all stages of their careers. Although this initiative is open to all artists, special consideration shall be given to artists who identify as members of a Native American tribe or community. All visual arts media in all genres, suitable for interior or exterior display, will be considered for purchase. Artwork must be durable, permanent, low-maintenance and in compliance with ADA guidelines upon installation. 

Eligibility

Although this initiative is open to all artists, special consideration shall be given to artists who identify as members of a Native American tribe or community. This call is open to artists residing in the Central, Mountain, or Pacific time zones of the United States as well as galleries in this region. Galleries may submit qualifications on behalf of any artist represented by the gallery, regardless of the artist’s residency.

Site Information

Artwork will be purchased for publicly accessible buildings throughout the State of New Mexico. The facilities encompass a broad range of use including, but not limited to: amphitheaters, animal shelters, community centers, courthouses, educational institutions, fire stations, healthcare facilities, recreation complexes, rest areas, senior centers, etc. Participating sites will have a total budget equal to 1% of recent capital outlay for new construction or major renovation projects.

Project Amount

Project amounts are $1,000 - $50,000 all-inclusive. Purchase agreements will be limited to a $1,000 minimum per artwork. Upon submission, the price of the artwork is considered all-inclusive of the following: materials, labor, insurance, taxes, commissions, fees, delivery, installation, travel, museum quality framing under Plexiglas, security-hangers, pedestal for small and large three-dimensional works, Plexiglas bonnet for small three-dimensional works, project plaque, as well as written and professional photographic documentation of the artwork. The price of large exterior three-dimensional work should include site preparation and foundation. Participating sites have a predetermined 1% budget that do not allow for price fluctuations after the submission deadline. Please price the work accordingly!

Museum quality framing, installation and project plaques must adhere to AIPP guidelines.

Selection Process and Criteria

A Submission Review Committee of artists and arts professionals will score applications based on the selection criteria listed. All New Mexico Arts public art projects are fair and open competitions; therefore not all applicants who apply will be included in the final pool of artwork shown to statewide Local Selection Committees. Local Selection Committees are made up of representatives from the owner and/or user agencies of eligible sites. The committee is responsible for selecting artwork to be purchased and permanently displayed in their facilities. Artwork included in the final pool is not a guarantee of sale.

Multiple artwork selection meetings will be conducted statewide during the course of the purchase initiative which is about two (2) years. Artwork submitted for consideration does not need to be removed from other sale opportunities. However, if a submitted piece is sold through another venue, the artist or artist’s representative is required to notify New Mexico Arts immediately so the work can be removed from the final selection pool.

Artwork installed at the site must be the same piece selected for purchase by the Regional Buying Committee. Substitutions and/or price fluctuations will not be allowed after the submission deadline.

Artists/galleries whose work is selected for purchase will be required to enter into a purchase contract with the State of New Mexico. A sample purchase contract is available on New Mexico Arts website.

Payment will be made upon completion of the terms of the purchase contract the receipt of a Notice of Acceptance/Final Payment Invoice (NOA/FPI) signed by the site to verify that contract requirements have been met and that a project plaque was provided.

The selection criteria shall include, but is not limited to:

• The professional qualifications of the artist demonstrated by the supporting materials.
• Demonstrated artistic quality (use of media, unique vision, quality craftsmanship-see submitted images)
• Artist has a developed and consistent style.

 Artwork that reflects a wide range of cultural, ethnic and artistic diversity will be selected.

Project Timeline

August 2022..................................................................... Project announced

October 31, 2022............................................................. Submission Deadline

November 2022............................................................... Notification of finalists

January 2023 – December 2025..................................... Notification of purchases

January 2023 – December 2026.............................................. Artwork installed

Questions? Please contact:

TJ Hilton
Art in Public Places Project Coordinator | New Mexico Arts
Department of Cultural Affairs
phone 505.487.0519 Thomas.Hilton@state.nm.us 

Deadline for Submission: Midnight (Mountain Time MDT), October 31, 2022

New Mexico Arts Staff will provide technical assistance through 4PM on October 31, 2022.

If you would like your submission materials reviewed by AIPP staff, please make an appointment no less than two weeks prior to the submission deadline. Technical assistance needs increase during the final two weeks of the call; therefore we cannot guarantee a review of materials during the last days of the call. Assistance is offered on a first-come first-served basis and we respond to calls in the order in which they were received.

Application Requirements

Submission Requirements

Please read the following information carefully as incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted. Supplemental information beyond what is requested will not be reviewed by the Submission Review or Regional Buying Committees. Failure to provide any of the published requirements will result in disqualification from the call. All materials must be submitted according to the specifications outlined on CaFÉ. Please note that only one application per artist will be considered.

• Artist's statement that provides an introduction to your work, medium, and explanation of your techniques. You might discuss your conceptual approach and inspiration; the statement should be used as a marketing tool relevant to the artwork being considered. There is a 5000 character limit, including spaces.
• Up to three images of previously completed work that is currently available for purchase. Complete image citations shall include the title, media, dimensions, price, year of completion, description and if applicable, edition size and print/casting number. Please review and follow the Image Preparation page on CaFÉ when formatting your images. Tutorials can be downloaded using the links near the bottom of the page.
• Galleries may submit work for multiple artists, please include artist statement and up to three images per artist to ensure a complete submission for each artist that you are applying for.

Eligibility Criteria

Artists residing in Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones of the US are eligible to apply. Although this initiative is open to all artists, special consideration shall be given to artists who identify as members of a Native American tribe or community.