Arts and Culture

Our community offers an extensive array of art ranging from galleries, museums studios, public and fine art to a wonderful variety of performing arts, theater, music and dance. Within the friendly streets of Las Cruces and historic Old Mesilla, the arts are held in high regard by area residents, and provide the community with the chance to not only observe the talents of our many fine local artists, but also to learn about our history, culture, and the diversity of our people.

In addition, other concentrations of art galleries are on the campus of New Mexico State University. The community art scene owes much to the presence of New Mexico State University with its highly regarded music, art and theater programs.

There are nearly 30 organizations focused on the arts, including the Doña Ana Arts Council, ArtForms: Artists Association of New Mexico, the Las Cruces Arts and Crafts Association, and the City of Artists. The performing arts are well represented by five theater companies, the Las Cruces Symphony and Mesilla Valley Concert Band, the Las Cruces Chamber Ballet, and various other music and dance groups. New Mexico State University features the Doña Ana Lyric Opera and outstanding vocal music, choral and instrumental music departments.

The Border Book Festival promotes the literary arts, and the Mesilla Valley Film Society offers foreign and independent films at Mesilla's Historic Fountain Theatre.

The area is fortunate to have a wide variety of museums that offer the opportunity to enjoy everything from fine arts, natural history, to the history of the area from prehistoric residents to the pioneers of the space age. The history of the state's agricultural and ranching traditions and culture is exhibited at one of the world's most unique venues, the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. The Space Murals museum and the White Sands Missile Range Museum show the history and origins of the atomic age and space program.

So, we invite you to step inside the studios of  our local artists, visit our public art galleries, attend one of our many theatrical productions or musical concerts and witness why the arts in Las Cruces are becoming a major cultural and economic force for the community.