2025 New Mexico Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts Nomination Form
The New Mexico Arts Commission and the New Mexico Arts Division announce a call for nominations for the 2025 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts. Each year, the Governor recognizes the extraordinary contributions that individuals and organizations make to the arts in New Mexico.
The Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts were established in 1974 by then Governor Bruce King and First Lady Alice King to celebrate the significance of the arts to the State of New Mexico. For five decades a prominent and diverse group of painters, weavers, sculptors, dancers, musicians, storytellers, poets, actors, playwrights, potters, and supporters of the arts have been honored.
Nominations for the awards are invited each year from interested New Mexicans and arts groups statewide. Nominations are reviewed by the New Mexico Arts Commission and the Governor. Nominations may be made by any New Mexico resident except for New Mexico Arts Commissioners and New Mexico Arts Division staff.
This year’s awardees will be honored at a ceremony on October 16, 2025, in the historic St. Francis Auditorium at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe.
Eligibility and Application Requirements:
NOMINATIONS FOR ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT:
Artists or arts groups/collectives from any discipline who have demonstrated significant and outstanding achievements in the arts will be considered for this award. Only living artists may be nominated.
NOMINATIONS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
- A letter of nomination stating how the nominee has demonstrated extraordinary achievement in the arts and why the nominee should be considered for the Governor’s Arts Award. Please include a summary of any contributions the nominee has made to the development of the arts in New Mexico and a brief description of the nominee’s artistic medium of choice.
- A complete biography and optional C/V or resume for the nominee.
- Optional name and contact information (email address and/or phone number) of someone who could provide additional support to this nomination if needed.
- Artistic Samples and Support Materials—Please upload samples that demonstrate the achievements and contributions of the nominee. For example, image samples, links to performances or exhibitions, writing samples, articles or stories about the nominee, and C/V or resume.
NOMINATIONS FOR MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARTS:
Individuals or organizations who have made significant or distinguished contributions to the arts in New Mexico will be considered for this award. Nominees may be arts patrons, arts advocates, arts educators, arts practitioners, businesses, nonprofits, or foundations with sustained involvement in and support for the arts. Only living individuals may be nominated.
NOMINATIONS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
- A letter of nomination describing the nominee’s history of support and involvement with the arts in New Mexico and why they are particularly deserving of recognition.
- A complete biography and optional CV or resume for the nominee.
- Optional name and contact information (email address and/or phone number) of someone who could provide additional support to this nomination if needed.
- Support Materials—Please upload samples that demonstrate the nominee’s contributions to or support for the arts in New Mexico. This may include articles about the nominee or the programs and activities that directly benefitted from their support, and/or samples that highlight of their professional or volunteer work in the cultural and philanthropic community, and CV or resume if applicable.
Please note: Galleries may not nominate artists they represent. Self-nominations or nominations by immediate family or members of the same household will not be accepted. Please do not solicit multiple nominations for the same candidate but rather collect letters of support as part of a single nomination. Multiple nominations that appear to be part of a coordinated campaign effort will not be accepted; only the first nomination received will be considered. New Mexico Arts Commissioners, New Mexico Arts division staff, and Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) executive staff—which includes all staff in the Office of the Secretary and all DCA Division Directors—are not permitted to write letters of support for nominations.
Begin the 2025 New Mexico Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts Nomination Form
Deadline to nominate is Monday, March 17, 2025, 5:00 PM MT
Page header image, New Mexico State Capital. Program button image, Patricia Michaels receives the 2023 Governor’s Award from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and New Mexico Arts Commission Chair, Nancy Cooper.