What We Learned at the First Southwest Contemporary Summit
Over 150 artists, art workers, and writers gathered in Santa Fe to talk infrastructure, money, and the future of the Southwest arts field.
October 08, 2026
Inside Southwest Contemporary
NewsInside Southwest Contemporary
Announcing Southwest Contemporary Weekend 2026
Southwest Contemporary announces a weekend of programming this September, encompassing a convening to consider the state of the Southwest art ecosystem and the second annual Art Party and auction in support of Southwest's independent art journalism.
July 28, 2026
Inside Southwest ContemporarySouthwestThe Road
Ghost Roads: How AI Almost Infiltrated the Editorial Process at Southwest Contemporary
Our call for pitches for “The Road” was regurgitated back to us by AI writers around the world. We almost fell for one of them.
March 17, 2026
Inside Southwest ContemporaryAt Large
Conviction and Grit: Lauren Tresp Reflects on 10 Years of Arts Publishing
Southwest Contemporary founder Lauren Tresp reflects on a ten-year entrepreneurship journey, from taking over the legacy of Santa Fe's The Magazine to establishing the leading contemporary arts publication covering the greater American Southwest.
January 13, 2026
Inside Southwest ContemporarySouthwest
Our Year in Review—And the Top 10 Southwest Contemporary Stories of 2025
Southwest Contemporary reflects on 2025: 181 articles, 125+ artists featured, and 330,000 readers reached. As AI threatens journalism and the arts, discover why reader support matters more than ever.
December 23, 2025
Books + LiteraryInside Southwest Contemporary
Our Favorite Books (and One Apocalyptic Podcast) of 2025
Desperate times call for exceptional reads. Pick up an ode to "bad" writing, a novel set in the West Bank, and more 2025 book picks by the Southwest Contemporary team.
December 15, 2025
Southwest Contemporary‘s Art Party Recap — And Pics
Santa Fe's arts community rallied for independent arts journalism at Southwest Contemporary's first fundraiser, raising nearly $40,000 to support emerging writers and cultural coverage.
July 04, 2025
Raffle, Raffle, Who’ll Win The Raffle?
Can't attend the Art Party? You can still participate in the fundraiser fun! Check out Southwest Contemporary's raffle lineup, and enter for a chance to win art, swag, or experiences.
May 29, 2025
Bid Now in Southwest Contemporary‘s First-Ever Benefit Art Auction
Southwest Contemporary's Benefit Art Auction is stacked with beloved regional artists, from Judy Chicago to Virgil Ortiz. Support arts journalism and collect powerful artwork through June 7.
May 25, 2025
Announcing Southwest Contemporary‘s Art Party Fundraiser and Benefit Auction
Southwest Contemporary announces the Art Party, our first fundraiser event and benefit art auction in support of arts journalism in the Southwest on Friday, June 6, in Santa Fe.
April 28, 2025
Books + LiteraryInside Southwest Contemporary
Our Favorite Books (and One Epic Article) of 2024
The Artist's Way for werewolves, a guide to forgetting the Alamo, and other compelling reads from the Southwest Contemporary editorial team.
January 06, 2025
Inside Southwest ContemporarySouthwest
The Top 10 Southwest Contemporary Stories of 2024
Southwest Contemporary's most widely read stories of 2024 reflect some of the most urgent issues within the arts.
January 02, 2025
Help us Raise $7,500 During our Year-End Fundraiser
Become a member or make a donation during the month of December and double your impact for arts journalism. Plus, two new resources for SWC Members!
December 01, 2024
To the Next Five Years and Beyond: From the Publisher
Southwest Contemporary owner and publisher Lauren Tresp reflects on our five-year anniversary—and all of the work that is still to come.
September 03, 2024
Inside Southwest ContemporaryNew Mexico
Critical Commons 2024: Santa Fe
Southwest Contemporary announces Critical Commons 2024: Santa Fe, the fourth iteration of our annual initiative to cultivate creative and critical discourse with a range of events.
August 09, 2024
From the EditorInside Southwest ContemporarySouthwest
An Opening Letter from New Southwest Contemporary Editorial Director Jordan Eddy
Our new editorial director, who joined SWC on April 22, looks back on a challenging decade of arts journalism—and ahead with an ambitious editorial vision.
May 17, 2024
From the EditorInside Southwest ContemporarySouthwest
Southwest Contemporary Announces New Leadership, Awards, and Eyes the Future
This spring, Southwest Contemporary welcomes a new editorial director and four new board members, along with award wins, open calls for our next issue, and an opportunity to win $10,000 in funding for emerging media.
May 10, 2024
Inside Southwest ContemporarySouthwest
Southwest Contemporary Expands Journalism Awards Slate with Five Prizes Across Two Competitions
Southwest Contemporary scores honors from the Society of Professional Journalists and New Mexico Press Women, for stories and designs reflecting the range of the publication's regional arts coverage.
May 10, 2024
Inside Southwest ContemporarySouthwest
Call for Visions: Tell Us What the Future Will Bring
Southwest Contemporary is entreating its readers to stop, take a moment, and imagine what a new world could hold.
April 25, 2024
Inside Southwest ContemporarySouthwest
Southwest Contemporary Announces New Magazine Size
Ta-da! Southwest Contemporary, a leader in arts and culture coverage in the Southwest, punches above its weight in a revamped print magazine!
April 01, 2024
The Top 10 Southwest Contemporary Stories of 2023
In 2023, Southwest Contemporary published 300 original articles by seventy-five contributors across eight states about contemporary art in the Southwest. These are readers' ten favorite stories of the year.
January 03, 2024
Join Southwest Contemporary to Expand Arts Coverage in 2024
Southwest Contemporary gives the arts community the focused attention, critical engagement, and depth of storytelling that no other publication can provide to the Southwest region.
December 21, 2023
Books + LiteraryInside Southwest Contemporary
Our Favorite Reads (and One Podcast) of 2023
Southwest Contemporary’s staff—Roman Aragón, Natalie Hegert, Steve Jansen, and Lauren Tresp—pick their favorite reading materials of 2023.
January 04, 2024
Inside Southwest ContemporarySouthwest
Southwest Contemporary Takes Home 3 Awards in Society of Professional Journalists Contest
Southwest Contemporary wins design, photography, and editorial awards in the 2023 Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies contest.
April 25, 2023
Announcing SWC’s Inaugural Community Editorial Advisory Board
Southwest Contemporary announces our inaugural Community Editorial Advisory Board, a group of arts leaders from across the region who will provide us with critical feedback about important stories we need to tell.
January 06, 2023
Looking Back: Southwest Contemporary’s 2022 in Review
Lauren Tresp, publisher and editor, looks back at 2022, a year of growth, engagement, and relationship-building for Southwest Contemporary.
December 31, 2022
Southwest Contemporary’s 10 Most-Read Articles of 2022
Southwest Contemporary’s most-read list for 2022 includes our 12 New Mexico Artists to Know Now announcement and our first longform feature.
December 27, 2022
CareerInside Southwest ContemporarySouthwest
Announcing Art Steady 3.0: Career Development for Creators
Art Steady 3.0 offers a powerhouse line-up of presenters touching on essential topics for all artists at any stage of their careers.
November 02, 2022
CareerInside Southwest ContemporarySouthwest
Announcing Art Steady 2.0: Career Development for Creators
We want to see more artists shine in all aspects of their work, so we’re excited to announce Art Steady 2.0, a series of five workshops that cover essential areas of successful creative career development led by leading experts.
November 02, 2021
NewsInside Southwest Contemporary
Announcing Art Steady: Career Development for Artists
We want to see more artists shine in all aspects of their work, so we’re excited to announce Art Steady, a series of five workshops that cover essential areas of successful career development led by a brilliant group of experts. Register now!
February 27, 2021
