Unifying New Mexico's Creative Soul: Go Artist Go Powers the NM Arts, Culture & Creativity Network
At Go Artist Go, we believed in the transformative power of art and community. That's why we were incredibly proud to be chosen by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs for a truly ambitious project: to create and administer a state-wide network dedicated to the arts, culture, and creativity of New Mexico. This initiative quickly became a vibrant hub, demonstrating remarkable engagement from day one. Our social media presence on Instagram and Facebook rapidly grew to 5.5K followers, achieving an impressive organic reach of over 36K, and generating 2.3K content interactions in 2024 alone. These numbers weren't just statistics; they represented a thriving, connected community.
The New Mexico Arts, Culture & Creativity Network (NMACCN) was a groundbreaking, state-wide initiative designed to share information, foster collaboration, build community, and facilitate innovation within the many diverse creative communities throughout New Mexico. We were deeply committed to unifying, connecting, and supporting New Mexico’s artists and creatives, extending our reach to the global creative community in order to sustain our rich artistic and cultural heritage.
The Challenge: A Fragmented Landscape & Missed Opportunities
Before the NMACCN, New Mexico's rich and varied creative communities faced a significant hurdle. They lacked a centralized, active platform for sharing opportunities, cultural data, and fostering cross-sector collaboration. This fragmentation led to missed opportunities and a less cohesive understanding of the state's vibrant artistic and cultural heritage. Artists and organizations often operated in silos, hindering collective growth and visibility.
According to a report by the UNM Bureau of Business & Economic Research, a significant challenge in New Mexico's creative sector was talent retention. Most participants willing to relocate would do so for professional opportunity and development. Conversely, those committed to staying did so almost entirely due to personal history and identity, not because of professional growth. This highlighted a critical gap: while many enjoyed life in New Mexico, they weren't finding the robust support system needed to truly grow and thrive professionally within the state.
Many artists, particularly those who featured in the Spanish and Indian markets in Santa Fe, made most of their annual income from these events. Without diversifying their distribution and customer base, and with revenues dropping, these artists were losing their primary source of income. These artists would clearly benefit from greater access and insights into national and international markets, as well as crucial financing information and sources of capital. The NMACCN was designed to directly address these systemic issues.
Our Solution & Strategic Approach: Connecting the Dots and Empowering Growth
Go Artist Go was selected to design, develop, and administer a comprehensive digital network to address these challenges head-on. Our strategic approach focused on creating a robust "collection and distribution channel of cultural data and creative opportunities." This involved integrating information from a wide array of sources: regional, national, and international arts organizations, creative businesses, and funders.
A key pillar of our strategy was user experience (UX) and leveraging appropriate social media channels. We understood that for the network to be truly effective, it had to be accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of digital literacy – a critical step in bridging the digital divide. We also developed clear messaging frameworks to articulate the network's value proposition to all stakeholders, from individual artists to government entities and corporate partners.
Key Contributions & Responsibilities: Fostering a Thriving Community
Our role in bringing the NMACCN to life encompassed several vital areas:
Platform Development: We oversaw the creation of the entire digital infrastructure for this state-wide network, ensuring it was robust, scalable, and user-friendly.
Strategic Communications: We developed compelling messaging that clearly articulated the network's purpose and benefits to its diverse audiences, encouraging participation and engagement.
Stakeholder Engagement: We facilitated initial outreach and fostered early collaboration among various arts organizations, businesses, and funders, building the foundation for a thriving community.
Content Strategy: We defined how cultural data and opportunities would be collected, curated, and distributed effectively, ensuring valuable information reached the right people at the right time. This meant connecting artists with grants, exhibition calls, workshops, and market insights they might otherwise miss.
Mission Alignment: Every aspect of the network's design and communication was meticulously aligned with its overarching goal: to sustain New Mexico's artistic and cultural heritage and drive its creative economy forward.
Tangible Impact: Unifying, Connecting, and Supporting New Mexico's Creatives
The NMACCN rapidly became a powerful force for positive change. By providing a centralized hub for information and collaboration, we significantly helped creatives in New Mexico be connected with opportunities that were previously out of reach. Artists gained easier access to information about national and international markets, potential financing, and professional development. The network fostered a sense of community that encouraged students and professionals in creative fields to stay and thrive in New Mexico, contributing to the vital community integration our state needed.
Through this project, Go Artist Go helped lay the groundwork for a more connected, collaborative, and prosperous creative future for New Mexico. We are proud to have played a pivotal role in empowering artists and organizations across the state, and the impressive social media engagement metrics served as a testament to the network's immediate and widespread impact.
Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey! We were thrilled about the future of New Mexico's arts and culture scene, and we were proud to be at the helm of this unifying endeavor. Stay tuned for more updates on how the NMACCN will support and connect our creative community.