Are You a Gallery?

How to Participate

Galleries can submit on behalf of as many artists as they represent for any of the following calls for art (purchase initiatives). There is no limit to how many artists can be submitted. You will need to create a separate profile on CaFÉ  for each artist, so please be aware and track each submission/profile you create.

Direct Purchase Program

Every year the PUBLIC ART – AIPP program launches an open call for art through one of the following Purchase Initiatives, through CaFÉ.

Purchase Initiative’s Parameters:

New Mexico Only

Open to NM Artists Only (artists currently living/working in NM, with a NM mailing address), seeking artwork (of any medium/size) with an all-inclusive* price between $1,000 – $20,000.

Southwest Artist Series

Open to artists in the Southwest (NM, TX, OK, CO, UT, AZ), seeking artwork (of any medium/size) with an all-inclusive* price between $5,000 – $50,000.

Native American/Indigenous Artists

Open to all artists (with preference for artists who identify as Native American/Indigenous) in the extended Southwest (CA, AZ, UT, CO, OK, NM, TX), seeking artwork (of any medium/size) with an all-inclusive* price between $5,000 – $50,000.

Large Scale

Open to all artists in the Southwest (NM, TX, OK, CO, UT, AZ), seeking artwork (of any medium/size) with an all-inclusive* price between $50,000-$200,000.

*All-inclusive price must include all of the following associated costs: cost of artwork, museum quality framing under Plexiglas, security hangers, pedestal and Plexiglas bonnet/vitrine for smaller three dimensional artworks, installation (including site preparation and foundation/concrete pad/footings for exterior sculpture installations), project plaque, travel, delivery, labor, insurance, taxes, fees, as well as any professional photography documentation that may be required as part of your proof of installation. PLEASE ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF THESE ASSOCIATED COSTS WHEN PRICING YOUR ARTWORK.*

Please visit CaFÉ to set up your FREE Artist account(s) today, upload images of the Artist’s portfolio, and be ready to apply to the next PUBLIC ART – AIPP Purchase Initiative Call. As a gallery, you can create a FREE account for as many artists as you would like to represent.

Current Opportunities

Please check here for opportunities.

Gallery FAQs

Artists can be any age, any stage of career (new/emerging/established/etc.), working in any medium/style, working anywhere in the United States. We do not currently contract with international artists.

If we can display it safely/protected in a public building/site we will accept. None of the PUBLIC ART – AIPP Purchase Initiatives are limited by medium/size/style. New Mexico Arts will consider artwork in any medium including: drawing, painting, fresco (on a support), sculpture, mosaic (on a support), photography, calligraphy, graphic arts, etching, lithography, offset printing, silkscreen, clay, textile, fiber, wood, metal, plastic, glass, mixed media, collage, assemblage, and more. If you are unsure if your artwork is suitable for the PUBLIC ART – AIPP program, please reach out to our PUBLIC ART – AIPP team.

Absolutely! As a matter of fact, galleries can submit for multiple artists, please see the Gallery Page Here for more information.

When pricing artwork, don’t just include the artwork price, artists will be responsible for installing their framed/protected artworks on site (sites can be located anywhere in New Mexico) please remember to include the following associated costs: cost of artwork, museum quality framing under Plexiglas, security hangers, pedestal and Plexiglas bonnet/vitrine for smaller three dimensional artworks, installation (including site preparation and foundation/concrete pad/footings for exterior sculpture/installations), project plaque, travel, delivery, labor, insurance, taxes, fees, as well as any professional photography documentation that may be required as part of your proof of installation. PLEASE ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF THESE ASSOCIATED COSTS AS PART OF YOUR ARTWORK PRICE.

The Large-Scale Purchase Initiative is a call for artwork in a specific price range. Seeking artwork in the $50,000 – $200,000 price range. This can be a monumental exterior sculpture, or a suite of photographs, and everything in between, as long as the final all-inclusive price fits within this price range.

Artists can install personally or hire a local art handler to install on their behalf. Artists are responsible for the artwork framing/delivery/safe and secure installation on site and associated costs (hence the need for all-inclusive pricing). If you have specific questions about installation/artwork preparation, please CLICK HERE for our Artist Guide, or contact a member of the PUBLIC ART – AIPP team.

The PUBLIC ART – AIPP – AIPP program assists in the acquisition of hundreds of artworks for installation in public buildings/sites in all 33 counties of New Mexico annually.

The best way to stay informed about current and upcoming opportunities in the Art in Public Places Program is by signing up for our monthly email newsletter HERE. As well, creating a FREE artist profile on CaFÉ.

Each owner agency (site) is required to form a Regional Buying Committee or Local Selection Committee. That committee is typically made up of employees of that facility/local government/institution, members of the community, local artists, users of the facility, and others. The PUBLIC ART – AIPP team has zero say in the selection process, to ensure the site acquires what they love and will own permanently onsite. The committee will review the artwork or artists as collected through one or more of our calls (purchase initiatives or call for artists/request for qualifications), and select within their PUBLIC ART – AIPP fund budget.

As per the Art in Public Places Act, 1% of any Capital Outlay allocation made (by the State Legislature) for the construction or major renovation of a public building, must be set aside for the acquisition of PUBLIC ART – AIPP for that building/site. Click here to read more about the Art in Public Places Act or associated NM Administrative code (NMAC).

Click HERE for step-by-step instructions on creating and building your artist profile.

CLICK HERE for contact information for our PUBLIC ART – AIPP team. Please feel free to reach out via email or phone with any questions regarding purchase initiative specifics.

Page header image, Chirp 312 Orange Crush by Travis Black.

Scroll to Top