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NEW MEXICO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Creative Industries Division

Finance Development

Creative Industries Division

Join us for Creative Industries Season

Events running throughout New Mexico to highlight our vibrant creative economy!

March 15 – June 15

Learn more about CI Season 2025

The Creative Industries Division was created by House Bill 8 in the 2023 Legislature and signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 5, 2023.

Our Mission:

The Creative Industries Division works to foster New Mexico’s creative economy by supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and organizations in New Mexico’s creative industries. Through economic development efforts that span education, workforce development, public infrastructure, grant-making, and resource sharing, we work to support our innovative ecosystem of creative businesses, professionals, technologists and more.

Visit the Creative Resource Directory

Find resources, small businesses, and creative economy assets across the state.
Click Here

Our Vision:

To establish New Mexico as a place where creative industries create economic opportunities for creative New Mexicans to thrive, and become an economic driver of the state’s economy.

What are the Creative Industries?

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Our Six Creative Industry Clusters:
Businesses or persons engaged in creative enterprises*

  1. performing arts | visual arts | literary arts
  2. entertainment | media | information and broadcasting
  3. applied arts and design, including architecture, landscape architecture, museum and gallery professions
  4. promotion | marketing | graphics and industrial design
  5. technology and computer system design | software design | coding and digital media
  6. crafts and artisan professions including metal, wood, glass, ceramics, paper, printing, textile, and culinary arts.

*This does not include a business, organization, or person engaged in creative enterprises involving filming activities supported by the New Mexico Film Office of the Economic Development Department.

What is the role of the division?

The Creative Industries Division is charged with supporting the state’s creative industries by:

  • Increasing and advancing creative industry-based economic development in New Mexico.
  • Supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in creative industries.
  • Assisting organizations that support creative industry companies and workers.
  • Supporting educational and workforce training initiatives that facilitate creative industry growth and success.
  • Identifying and helping establish public infrastructure to support creative industries.
  • Serving as an information clearinghouse by providing resources and opportunities to creative industry stakeholders.
  • Acting as a liaison between creative industries-related businesses and organizations.

Who do we serve?

  • Businesses and entrepreneurs in the creative industries
  • Organizations that support creative industry companies and workers
  • Local governments, Tribes, and municipalities seeking to establish creative industries’ public infrastructure
  • Creative industries stakeholders through our Creative Resource Center, referrals to other organizations like New Mexico Arts, and our Creative Industries Division Newsletter

Insights on New Mexico's Creative Economy

  • $6B in Annual Economic Activity
  • $1.6B in taxable annual wages
  • New Mexico ranks in the top five for visual artists such as painters, sculptors, craft artists, and printmakers, according to The Washington Post’s analysis of Census Bureau data from the past decade
  • 12% of all GRT establishments are creative establishments
  • 118% projected growth for employment levels in “arts, entertainment, and recreation” by 2030

Creative Industries Division Study summary presentation

Creative Industries Week 2024 webinars

Publications & Data

Need Assistance?

Contact us:

Shani Harvie
Creative Industries Division Director
Shani.Harvie@edd.nm.gov

Arlen Nelson
Division Coordinator
Arlen.Nelson@edd.nm.gov

New Mexico Economic Development Department

Main number: (505) 827-0300 (se habla español)
Email: info@edd.nm.gov

Joseph M. Montoya Building
1100 S. St. Francis Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87505

Albuquerque Office
500 Marquette Ave NW Suite 640
Albuquerque, NM 87102

Mailing Address:
New Mexico Economic
Development Department
P.O. Box 20003
Santa Fe, NM 87504-5003

The mission of the New Mexico Economic Development Department is to Improve the lives of New Mexico families by increasing economic opportunities and providing a place for businesses to thrive.

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