In its first four decades, Santa Fe Art Institute dramatically evolved its approach to engaging with artists. Now it aims to transform the surrounding district.
In the city of Santa Fe’s muted midtown district, the Santa Fe Art Institute stands out with its bright red exterior and striking geometric features. The building, completed in 1999, was designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta to house SFAI’s residency program and features twelve dorm rooms, studio spaces, a library, living room, offices, and a courtyard.
The independent arts organization was founded in 1985, under its original name the Santa Fe Institute of Fine Arts, by William Lumpkins and Pony Ault with the intention of bringing visiting artists to Santa Fe. Today, SFAI supports seventy artists each year and has engaged over 5,000 artists and collaborators through its programming focused on critical discourse, cultural exchange, interconnection, and support.
“This is a great moment for us to reflect on how we would like to move forward and what sort of vision we have for the future,” says executive director Toccarra Thomas of SFAI’s 40th anniversary. “When you look at our mission and you look at what’s happening in the world, one thing we’re really interested in is: what does it mean to inspire critical dialogue and exchange in this current climate moving forward?”
This year also marks the ten-year anniversary of SFAI’s international social justice thematic residency program, designed to investigate social, cultural, and economic problems through a critical and creative framework. This year’s residency theme, Community of Practice, was chosen to commemorate both anniversaries. In contrast to the usual open call process, the participating artists of this residency were all nominated by SFAI alumni.
Historically, SFAI artists taught classes to the public during their time in residence. Today, visiting artists are encouraged to learn about organizations in Santa Fe that share their interests and to connect with the community in more intentional ways. “I think that, over time, our evolution has really become about how we’re a process space for artists,” says Thomas.
“We do these public engagements trying to connect the public to the idea of the behind-the-scenes realities for an artist, but we’re also trying to connect these artists with each other so that they can continue to build their professional network,” says Thomas. Community building among the artist cohort is fostered through meal sharing, internal presentations, and field trips. SFAI aims to provide artists with tools and resources that they can take with them beyond the residency.
As part of SFAI’s commitment to developing community partnerships, the organization spearheaded the Midtown Arts and Design Alliance, a collective of nonprofits working to revitalize a portion of the midtown campus, which was formerly occupied by the now-defunct Santa Fe University of Art and Design. Thomas is focused on helping SFAI grow relationships with “other creative, potentially non-art entities,” bring in other voices and perspectives, and invite exchange with other sectors like science, agriculture, and technology.
“This is sort of a period of reimagining,” Thomas says. “I think people will see some really interesting things coming from us over the next few years.”
