New Mexico. Arts Division

The New Mexico Arts Commission was established by a legislative act in 1965 to advise and assist public agencies in planning civic beautification, encourage artistic activities, and foster appreciation of the arts in New Mexico (1965 Laws of N.M., Chp. 138, Sec. 1-6). In 1977 a legislative act established the Educational Finance and Cultural Affairs Department and its Arts Division. (1977 Laws of N.M., Chp. 246, Sec. 3 and 31). The Division exercised the administrative functions formerly assigned to the Arts Commission, which became an advisory body to the director of the Arts Division (1977 Laws of N.M., Chp. 238, Sec. 1-2). In 1980 a legislative act abolished the Educational Finance and Cultural Affairs Department and established the Office of Cultural Affairs (1980 Laws of N.M., Chp. 151, Sec. 22-58). The same 1980 legislative act transferred the Arts Division to the newly-established Office of Cultural Affairs (1980 Laws of N.M., Chp. 151, Sec. 57). The function of the New Mexico Arts Division includes the encouragement of the creative arts in New Mexico; and to accept, on behalf of the state, donations suitable to achieving its purpose.