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Important for FY27
New Mexico Arts moved to a two-year funding cycle in FY26. Applicants who are awarded funding in FY26 will be allowed to submit a shorter Application Renewal for FY27; you must have been successfully funded in FY26 in order to submit in FY27.
FY27 Renewal Application
Deadline: December 12, 2025 @11:59 pm MT
The Renewal Application is NOW OPEN for eligible applicants who were awarded funding in FY26. The Renewal Application is a short update in which you will submit information about proposed FY27 activities for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. If you received a score of 65 or above in FY26, you are eligible to submit a Renewal Application. Regardless of whether you accepted your FY26 funding, you must submit a Renewal Application to be considered for funding for FY27.
*No new applications will be accepted at this time; this opportunity is for current grantees only. We will offer future funding opportunities in Fall of 2026.
All New Mexico Arts 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.
FY27 Renewal Application:
FY26 Funding Guidelines:
Advance Review
Please note, the Advance Review will be offered for the FY2028 Grant Cycle.
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.
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 Arts 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' Scores and Bios
Page header image, Axle Projects, Cannupa Hanska Luger