Southwest Contemporary announces a weekend of programming this September, encompassing a convening on the state of the Southwest art ecosystem, the second annual Art Party, and a benefit art auction in support of Southwest‘s independent art journalism.
Southwest Contemporary Weekend
September 4–5, 2026
Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe
Southwest Contemporary is thrilled to announce Southwest Contemporary Weekend, a new two-day convening for artists, readers, arts professionals, collectors, and anyone invested in the future of contemporary art across the region.
The Weekend encompasses three unique experiences: the inaugural Southwest Contemporary Summit, the Benefit Art Auction, and our second annual Art Party, each hosted at the Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe.
The weekend’s diverse slate of programming builds on our commitment to championing the Southwest’s creative communities and is informed by our uniquely regional perspective. We’ll bring regional arts leaders together for constructive conversation, foster community through networking and celebration, invite exploration of Santa Fe’s art scene, and generate meaningful fundraising support for independent arts journalism across the Southwest.
Learn more about each programming component below, and mark your calendar to spend Labor Day weekend with us in Santa Fe!
The Art Party
Saturday, September 5, 6-9 pm
The weekend culminates in our second annual Art Party! Join the Southwest Contemporary team for an evening of celebration and connection while we raise a glass to our creative community.
The party will feature a live performance by Tone Ranger, selections from the auction, cocktails, raffle prizes, and the launch of the Fall-Winter issue of Southwest Contemporary magazine, Vol 14: Alien.
Snag your party tickets here!
The Benefit Art Auction
online bidding: August 28–September 6
Southwest‘s second annual benefit art auction brings together our vibrant community of artists, collectors, and creators in support of our mission to provide free, accessible arts journalism to our community.
This year’s auction will feature approximately 100 artworks by more than fifty leading contemporary artists spanning all corners of our region. The auction will open for online bidding on Friday, August 28, and close on Sunday, September 6.
A selection of auction artworks will be exhibited at CCA during the Art Party fundraiser.
In addition to directly sustaining our work, proceeds also support the artists. Rather than request fully donated works, Southwest splits up to 50% of auction proceeds with the participating artists.
Register here to bid.
Southwest Contemporary Summit
September 4–5
The inaugural Southwest Contemporary Summit is a regional gathering designed for arts professionals working within the visual art ecosystem across the greater Southwest and West.
Building on Southwest’s role as a platform where voices and stories from across the region intersect, the summit brings that work to life.
The day will include candid, constructive conversations about the ideas and forces shaping the visual art field across the region. Designed primarily to serve art professionals and artists, the summit also welcomes the public into conversations about the networks and material conditions that shape Southwest cultural life.
Panels and discussions will explore infrastructure and collaboration, financial sustainability and the art market, and the broader state of the arts ecosystem. The summit will bring neighboring communities together to share inspiration, tools, and resources.
Capacity for the Summit is limited, and advanced registration is required (Summit registration includes free Art Party tickets!).
Learn more about the summit program and register here.
