City of Albuquerque Urban Enhancement Trust Fund

The Urban Enhancement Trust Fund (UETF) is a public endowment established by the Albuquerque City Council in 1983. Originally designed to fund both capital and cultural projects, the fund’s focus was revised in 2004 to support only cultural initiatives. The fund operates under the guidance of the UETF Board, a body of eleven members responsible for defining selection criteria, overseeing the grant cycle, and ensuring the integrity of funded projects. The program follows a structured two-year cycle consisting of planning, application, review, selection, and oversight phases. The core mission of the UETF is to support arts and cultural projects that enrich the lives of Albuquerque residents. Funded projects span diverse artistic disciplines including music, theater, dance, creative writing, visual art, performance art, installation, photography, film, teaching artistry, arts education, and culturally-based crafts. The fund specifically seeks to support work that promotes cultural vibrancy and economic enrichment within Albuquerque’s city limits. Applications are limited to nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations or collectives/community groups partnering with one. The applying entities must demonstrate a commitment to enhancing the arts within Albuquerque. All proposals must clearly demonstrate a positive economic or cultural impact on the city. Projects must take place entirely within Albuquerque’s boundaries. Evaluation of submissions is carried out by the UETF Board, with staff input, and includes scoring and recommendations to the Mayor and City Council for final approval. Funded organizations are required to report on the activities supported by UETF, and the broader public ultimately benefits through increased access to arts and cultural events. Examples of past UETF-funded initiatives include workshops at schools and community centers, public performances and exhibits, cultural festivals, multimedia productions, oral history and cultural documentation projects, and historical or literary publications. Each cycle invites fresh proposals aligned with the fund’s mission to expand access to and engagement with the arts across Albuquerque. To learn more or to apply for funding, organizations can reach out directly to the UETF Project Coordinator via email at uetf@cabq.gov.

Projects must be clearly defined, take place within Albuquerque, and demonstrate cultural or economic impact