Apply for a Grant
Apply for a Grant
Important for FY2026
New Mexico Arts is moving to a two-year funding cycle for FY2026. Applicants who are awarded funding in FY2026 will be allowed to submit a shorter application update in FY2027 (guidelines to be posted in September 2025), but you must have been successfully funded in FY2026 in order to submit in FY2027. If an organization misses the FY2026 deadline, they will need to wait for two years until September 2026, to next apply for funding from New Mexico Arts.
All New Mexico Arts new and returning applicants — excluding Folk Arts Apprenticeships — will use the online grants system to prepare and to submit an application.
Returning grantees and applicants will use the same log-on and password (If you have a question about your log on, please contact your New Mexico Arts program coordinator. Do NOT create a new account in the system.) New applicants will need to create an account in the system.
The FY26 Application must be submitted online by 11:59 PM MT, December 13, 2024.
Current Application
Current Funding Guidelines
Advance Review
The deadline for Advance Review Applications is 11:59 pm MT, October 18. 2024.
An Advance Review is offered prior to the final deadline to help applicants improve their applications and to check for mistakes that might cause ineligibility. If an applicant was declared ineligible or did not receive funding in the past year or has not applied to New Mexico Arts in the past two years, an Advance Review is required. In addition, New Mexico Arts Program Coordinators may require some organizations to submit an Advance Review based on past applications. Failure to comply will disqualify those organizations from submitting a Final Application in December. New Mexico Arts strongly encourages all applicants to take advantage of this service. To complete an Advance Review, applicants must complete and submit an online application.
An Advance Review by New Mexico Arts does not guarantee funding.
The FY26 Application must be submitted online by 11:59 PM MT, December 13, 2024.
Panel Evaluation Criteria and Scoring Guide by Funding Category
Please see the guide for your funding category for guidance on how review panelists consider applications for funding based on New Mexico Arts Panel Evaluation Criteria.
- Creative Support Funding Arts Projects, Community Arts, Major Cultural Organizations; Colleges, Universities, & Government Entities evaluation criteria
- Arts in Social Service evaluation criteria
- Arts Learning: In Schools & In Community evaluation criteria
- Local Arts Councils & Service Organizations evaluation criteria
- Traditional Folk Arts Projects evaluation criteria
Panel Reviews
New Mexico uses an online grants system for all applications and support material, panel review and evaluation, and grant agreement reporting. Panelists review and score applications and artistic samples online; and enter their review comments. The panel review period is scheduled for the month of March. The panel rankings will be posted on the NMA website within ten business days of the panel review period. The panel rankings will be presented to the Planning and Budget Committee of the New Mexico Arts Commission for funding recommendations in May. Final approval of funding recommendations occurs at the meeting of the full New Mexico Arts Commission in June. Successful applicants will receive a contract package in June/July. Applicants not recommended for funding will receive a letter.
Panelists and Panel Reviews
Page header image, Axle Projects, Cannupa Hanska Luger
