Daniel R. Zillmann to head Marketing and Communications at the NM Department of Cultural Affairs

February 4th, 2020

(Santa Fe, New Mexico) - The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel R. Zillmann as Marketing and Communications Manager. He has been a publicist at Unison Media since 2019 and recently served as Director of Media and Public Relations at The Santa Fe Opera.

Prior to working with DCA, Zillmann was a public relations contractor for the department, head of Media and Public Relations at The Santa Fe Opera, and Communications Manager at Minnesota Opera. He has worked for and volunteered his time in the performing arts industry since 1997. Zillmann has had more than 10 years of experience framing effective messaging into communications that implement culture and promote engagement.

“I am honored to be appointed to this role at the DCA and thrilled to be able to use my talents and knowledge to further the department’s vital mission,” said Zillmann. “I am confident that my experience in not-for-profit communications at The Santa Fe Opera and Minnesota Opera, where my principal charge was to connect the institutions with local, national, and international audiences, will benefit the DCA’s initiatives. With storytelling as one of my greatest passions, I am eager to share the rich and diverse history of this state with a broader audience. Keeping in line with the department’s mission, I also look forward to encouraging and increasing public access to programs, museums, and historic sites throughout the state to all New Mexicans.”

The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs preserves, fosters, and interprets New Mexico’s diverse cultural heritage and expression for present and future generations, enhancing the quality of life and economic well-being of the state. Reporting to Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico DCA, Zillmann will oversee the flow of information between the department and the public. He will work closely with DCA’s senior leadership as the communications partner on a variety of mission-driven initiatives. Zillmann will ultimately determine the DCA’s communication and marketing strategy, manage public relations campaigns, and assist as the face of the department at media events.

“We are delighted to welcome Daniel as head of marketing and communications for the department,” stated Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. “He brings a wealth of experience from previous communications roles at cultural institutions, which will serve New Mexico and the department well.”

A native Midwesterner with his roots based in Wisconsin, Zillmann holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He started in not-for-profit management at WCAL Public Radio (now part of Minnesota Public Radio), the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Guthrie Theater. His professional career began at Lyric Opera of Chicago, and he returned to Minneapolis in 2005 where he worked at Best Buy corporate headquarters with the design team before returning to the arts industry at Minnesota Opera. An annual summer visitor to Santa Fe since 2004, he has called New Mexico home for six years.

Besides his passion for performing and visual art, Zillmann has fostered a love of learning about natural and cultural history since an early age. His life-long goal is to visit all 419 units of the National Park Service, a journey that reached its halfway point last summer. “With an evolving gold standard for interpretation of our diverse and shared American history, the NPS continues to enhance my love for this land and challenge my understanding of our country’s storied history,” said Zillmann.

About the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and New Mexico Arts

Created in 1978 by the New Mexico Legislature, the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) is New Mexico’s cultural steward, charged with preserving and showcasing the state’s cultural riches. With its eight museums, seven historic sites, arts, archaeology, historic preservation, and library programs, the DCA is one of the largest and most diverse state cultural agencies in the nation. Together, the facilities, programs, and services of the Department support a $5.6 billion cultural industry in New Mexico.

Events, news releases, and images related to activities in divisions of the DCA can be accessed at media.newmexicoculture.org.