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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

The bill appropriates a total $500.0 general fund in FY99 and FY2000 to the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) to 1) restore and conserve New Mexico's public art from the depression ($330.0),

2) make a documentary film about New Mexico's public artists and their work from the depression ($20.0), and 3) publish an art book on New Mexico's public art from the depression ($150.0). Unexpended balances would revert to the general fund at the end of FY2000. The bill includes an emergency clause.

Significant Issues

During the depression years, many works of art were commissioned for public buildings across New Mexico, resulting in many important murals and other works of art. In New Mexico, the New Deal era resulted in 65 murals, 657 paintings, 10 sculptures and many craft items in towns such as Alamagordo, Carlsbad, Clayton, Clovis, Dexter, El Rito, Ft. Sumner, Gallup, Las Cruces, Las Vegas, Lordsburg, Los Lunas, Melrose, Portales, Raton, Roswell, Silver City, Socorro, Taos, Texico and Wagon Mound. This bill would fund conservation and preservation of 214 murals and paintings in these towns. These are important works, many of which were created by New Mexico's premier artists at the time.

A secondary purpose of the request is to raise public awareness and interest in this important historic period. Funds for a documentary on New Mexico Depression era art would be used to attract matching funds from media outlets or private sources. The documentary would likely include interviews with 10 surviving New Mexican artists from this period.

The book on New Deal public art could serve as a tourism attraction and economic development tool for these rural communities. Tourists frequently just drive past these towns, but the book would highlight a reason for them to stop, look at the historic artworks, and, perhaps, purchase lodging, meals, souvenirs, gasoline and other goods from local merchants.

According to OCA, the works of art that this bill aims to protect and celebrate are an important part of New Mexico's history and provide a crucial artistic document of the era. Climactic conditions, dust, sunlight and other environmental factors all contribute to the deterioration of these works of art. As an essential component in the state's history, these artworks have both extrinsic and intrinsic value; the integrity of this art should be maintained.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

According to OCA, this bill would likely be implemented through outside professional contracts overseen by agency staff.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

OCA noted that the cost of the production of the documentary ($20.0) seems very low, while the cost of publication of the book ($150.0) seems very high. OCA believes that a high-end art book should cost about $50.0 to produce and print 5,000 copies.

OCA is also concerned that the schedule for completion of these projects-12 to 14 months-appears tight. A comprehensive effort to restore and conserve these art pieces is a sizeable task which would probably take more than a year. Similarly, production of the documentary and a top-drawer art book may take longer than FY2000. Incremental funding may be a viable option for these projects.

DH/njw