Releases | New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs

Experience New Mexico’s Museums, Historic Sites, and Cultural Institutions from Home

March 27th, 2020

(Santa Fe, NM) The NM Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) strives to keep New Mexicans connected with state museums, historic sites, and cultural institutions while they are temporarily closed due to public health concerns related to COVID-19. It is the mission of DCA to continue celebrating the cultural integrity and diversity of our state.

DCA has been working to bring an online experience to constituents which will allow access to its divisions from computers and mobile devices.

The following is a collection of online resources currently available for the public:

New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage MuseumFarm & Ranch has online exhibitions, resources, and other educational material to enjoy while at home. There is an online library as well. Follow the links for the Farm & Ranch Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Historic Preservation Division: HPD will be using platforms like Facebook to post content about recent listings in the State and National registers, upcoming events like Preservation Month, and information about historic resources, including interesting posts about archaeology, state and national parks, preservation tax credit projects, and local preservation efforts. Division staff recently started a series called “This Week in New Mexico History” to focus on listed properties throughout the state. There is also a YouTube Channel to enjoy.

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture: MIAC is continuing its mission of serving the public with artistic and cultural understanding. The Museum will be featuring various objects from exhibitions via social media and its website for the public to enjoy. There is also a vast research & collections page to access from home and an online library and other curricula to keep students busy. The museum also encourages individuals to view the Museum’s Vimeo, which highlights the Native Youth Film Camp. These videos help foster the voices of young Native filmmakers, giving them a glimpse into work in the film industry. Follow the links for MIAC InteractivesFacebook, and YouTube.

Museum of International Folk ArtMOIFA has been hard at work assembling folk art kits for students in the Santa Fe Public Schools. These will be handed out at various lunch pick-up locations throughout the city. MOIFA also has a large online collection to enjoy from home. The online collection features more than 130,000 objects from over 100 countries. Also available are online lesson plans to help keep students busy while at home. Follow the links for MOIFA InteractivesFacebookTwitter, and YouTube.

National Hispanic Cultural CenterNHCC online services include an online collection and other social media platforms. Videos feature a variety of resources as well, including interviews with artists, performances, lectures, and fun mashups of footage from a variety of events. There is also a Google arts and culture page that features a variety of content about the performing arts, the Torreon, and other exhibits. NHCC is developing a Latinx book blog review. The Performing Arts department will be rolling out a campaign targeted specifically to their Circo Latino students with media content, challenges, and at home activities through the Circo Latino Facebook page as well as the NHCC Facebook page. Follow the links for NHCC InteractivesFacebook, and YouTube.

New Mexico ArtsNMA is using online and social media platforms to continue serving artists, arts organizations and communities across New Mexico. Follow our Facebook and Instagram as we continue ongoing social media campaigns; highlight the creative responses in online arts programming; and share local, regional and national arts-related news, resources and artist opportunities. Please be sure to also follow the New Mexico Music Commission Facebook page and website, or the New Mexico Poetry Out Loud Facebook page, New Mexico Arts and the Military Facebook page as well as the NMA Vimeo page. NMA has created a page for COVID-19 response and resources for artists and arts organizations.

New Mexico Historic Sites: Historic Sites has completed the groundwork for launching its “Virtual Classroom” series through the Historic Sites website and social media channels (primarily Facebook and Instagram). The program consists of a pre-lesson packet available through a link on the Virtual Classroom landing page; activities designed for K-4th grades, 5th-8th grades, and 9th-12th grades; and a pre-recorded video lesson led by a professional interpretive staff member available through the HSD website, YouTube, and Facebook.

New Mexico History MuseumEnjoy seasonally-related content currently scheduled through August 2020. Additionally, content related to “This Day in History” from the Palace of the Governors is scheduled to post when available. The museum also has various social media campaigns, including a week-long series on historic fashion in New Mexico. Follow the links for NMHM InteractivesFacebookTwitter, and YouTube.

New Mexico Museum of Art: MOA has content to keep the whole family engaged through multiple online resources, including the Searchable Art Museum (SAM), archives, videos, and an online library. Visit the Rocky Mountain Online Archive to find out more about the MOA’s archives. The Museum’s blog offers additional reading. Follow the links for MOA Facebook, and YouTube.

New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science: MNHS has online exhibitions, resources, and other educational material to enjoy while at home. MNHS will feature its popular Story Time digitally, along with an activity to keep children and families in the science spirit. An online tour of the Tiny Titans, Dinosaur Eggs and Babies exhibit is available on the MNHS website. Follow the links for MNHS InteractivesFacebook, and YouTube.

New Mexico Museum of Space HistorySpace has online exhibitions, resources, and other educational material to enjoy while at home. Follow the links for the museum’s InteractivesFacebook, or YouTube.

New Mexico State Library: NMSL will continue to provide online learning services through El Portal. This includes the BrainFuse platform, which provides live online tutoring and homework help in both English and Spanish, along with access to quizzes, lessons, and standardized tests for all ages. The public can always access the Library’s catalog online. NMSL hosts an open web meeting for librarians as well as brief, informational workshops which can be accessed on the website. The Library for the Blind is still operating, as well as books by mail. Many of the public libraries in the state have eBook databases patrons can access from home. Follow the links for NMSL InteractivesFacebook, and YouTube.

Office of Archaeological Services: Explore how bows and arrows are made on the OAS educational resources page. Activity packets which combine creative archaeological explorations with critical thinking skills can be found on the at-home resources page.

More information related to social media and online resources for each division of DCA is available upon request. 

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NMDCA

New Mexico CulturePass

Your ticket to New Mexico's exceptional Museums and Historic Sites.
From Indian treasures to space exploration, world-class folk art to awesome dinosaurs—our museums and monuments celebrate the essence of New Mexico every day.
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Encounter Culture

Take a look inside the museums and historic sites of New Mexico without leaving home. Join host Charlotte Jusinski, and a variety of guest curators, artists, and exhibitors in exploring the art and culture of the state in Encounter Culture, a new podcast from the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

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