President's Message
2022 was filled with challenges and amazing success for CSA We seated a new Board of Directors in January, reconstituted our committees, and normalized operations. We had the most successful CAST in anyone’s memory, added a record number of new members and will start the new year with about a third of our leadership team being new members. And we had a lot of fun working together.
A lot of people made the successes possible. That’s the way successful organizations work. Many, even new members, stepped forward to help out. I want to thank all those who pitched in to get CSA on track and moving forward to constructively support our members and promote the art community in the Village.
The Village will soon be designated as a New Mexico Art and Culture District. A new performing arts center is being planned. We also made a wonderful discovery this year when we joined with several other local organizations, Corrales MainStreet and Village officials, to investigate leasing property for an art center where CSA would manage a co-op gallery. We found strong interest and support from members in the concept. Although discussions on leasing the property failed, the partners are ready to move forward again if a desirable property becomes available. Read more
Corrales Performing Arts Center
The Corrales Performing Arts Committee was appointed by Mayor Fahey and approved by the Village Council on May 10, 2022. Committee membership:
- Seven Corraleños were appointed as committee members representing a broad spectrum of experience and expertise.
- In addition to the appointed committee, three advisors were selected to aid the Ad Hoc Committee.
The committee’s mandate from the Village council was to:
- "To identify and help implement a plan to create a performing arts center that could be used for a variety of events and classes in the Village of Corrales."
- "To gather further citizen input regarding the needs of the Village that could be met by such a center", and
- "To provide information on how to fund the project."
The committee worked with a local architect to develop 7 different concept drawings, each building on a predecessor drawing. Various Village officials attended committee meetings to provide suggestions and insight. Since its inception in May of 2022, the committee has met weekly investing more than 1800 hours developing a strategic plan, setting goals and objectives, developing concept drawings, and outlining steps to fund the project.
The result of the committee work is a flexible, multifunctional regional center benefitting virtually all Corraleños and serving as an anchor for the Village’s Arts and Cultural District. The Committee has not designated any area of the Center exclusively for the use of any organization. Village administration, staff and others have reinforced the non-exclusivity of space usage.
The committee invited and received input from a wide spectrum of Corrales organizations including schools/teachers, 4-H, Music in Corrales, Corrales MainStreet, Corrales Society of Artists, Corrales Historical Society, Parks and Recreation Commission, Agricultural community, unrepresented arts and cultural organizations, growers, Corrales Kiwanis Club, Corrales Library, and Corrales residents.
Based on community input, expanded the proposed use of the center from performing arts to Arts, Community and Education…the derivation of ACE.
12 different arts and cultural centers in NM, CO, and TX were surveyed to determine organizational, operating and ownership structures. All but one are owned by a municipality and are managed, funded, and operated by a 501 (c) (3) organization.
Strategies to fund the project are being developed. Lists of possible foundation, corporate and individual donors is being developed along with state and federal funding sources.
Work was initiated on the project’s branding with a local marketing firm.
A nonprofit organization, Friends of Corrales ACE Center (FACE) has been established. A non-profit, like FACE, will be needed to continue design planning and fundraising. A nonprofit, like Friends of Corrales Ace Center, is necessary because:
- The Village cannot solicit funding from private sources.
- The Village has NO money.
When the committee presents its final report to the Village Council in April, its term will end. The committee will recommend that the Village create a public-private agreement between the Village and a non-profit organization, like FACE, to continue the planning and fund raising.
After the report to the Council, if the Council determines that the project will continue. It will identify the process for continued design planning and fund raising.
