Arts & Health Initiative

The Arts & Health Collaborative Planning Grant is an initiative of New Mexico Arts, created to support the strategic integration of arts-based practices into community health and well-being planning. Under the broader Arts & Health Initiative, the grant aligns with three core strategic pillars: Connect, Convene, and Contribute. These pillars aim to link organizations across health, government, social service, and arts sectors; host technical assistance and peer convenings; and provide financial support for collaborative planning that enhances social connectedness and belonging. The grant provides a fixed amount of $5,000 to approximately eight organizations for a planning process that must culminate in a written Collaborative Community Plan. This plan should detail the collaborative structure, health need being addressed, goals and objectives, intended audience, arts interventions, roles, budget, evaluation, sustainability, and communication strategies. The grant period spans from January 1, 2026, to June 15, 2026. Activities must take place within this timeframe, and all funds must be expended during the grant period. Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis. Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, state and local government units, and federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. Applicants must have received a New Mexico Arts award in FY2025 and submitted all required final reports by the specified deadlines. Only one application is permitted per organization. Fiscal sponsorship is not allowed. Additionally, applicants must have a Unique Entity ID (UEI) from SAM.gov and at least one planning partner from a relevant sector. Allowable expenses include staff time, contracted services, travel, meeting-related supplies and space, marketing, and communications. However, grant funds cannot be used for direct individual aid, food (except per diem), capital improvements, grant writing, or overlapping activities funded through other New Mexico Arts programs. Proposed programs must comply with accessibility standards outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Applicants are evaluated on the quality of their artistic work, alignment with mission, potential for collaboration, and administrative capacity. All awardees must participate in peer learning sessions, submit planning deliverables, and report on funded activities by June 30, 2026. The submission deadline for applications is October 31, 2025, at 5 PM MST. Notifications will be issued by December 1, 2025. Questions may be directed to Kevin Lenkner, Arts & Health Initiative Coordinator, at 505-412-5791 or kevin.lenkner@dca.nm.gov.

Applicants are encouraged to review eligibility early, ensure they have an eligible partner, consult the Arts & Health Initiative coordinator with questions, and align their goals with the strategic priorities of connect, convene, and contribute.