By George Kanesta
Sun Correspondent
Now in its fifth year, the Social Justice Guest Curator Program will continue through 2026, sustained by community donations and membership fees after gallupARTS declined its Fiscal Year 2026 New Mexico Arts grant to uphold its dedication to free speech.
For the past four years, gallupARTS was a proud partner of New Mexico Arts with the guest curator program being funded by NM Arts, which is jointly funded by a National Endowment for the Arts grant and state money. In 2025, the current presidential administration required NEA recipients, including 190 arts and cultural organizations statewide, to certify compliance with anti-discrimination laws regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Motivated by a commitment to artistic expression as free speech, gallupARTS declined the NEA-dictated grant, prompting questions about the continuation of the program.
gallupARTS along with countless organizations across the U.S. co-signed the National Coalition Against Censorship and The New School’s “Cultural Freedom Demands Collective Courage” public statement, pledging to:
“Remain true to our democratic responsibility to act as guardians of artistic freedom and independent thought”
“Affirm the independence of our programming in service to our mission and commit to resisting external pressures, thus assuring our organization’s credibility and cultural authority”
“Stand with fellow institutions facing political pressure and remain a field united by shared values and principles”
The announcement of the program’s grant denial prompted a spontaneous response from the Gallup community, providing vital support to the gallery.
“There wasn’t a way to keep [the program] when we declined the funding,” gallupARTS executive director Rose Eason said. “We didn’t actually ask for donations when we announced our decision to decline the award, but people donated anyway. I’m really proud of our community for keeping this program going.”
Supplementing community donations, gallupARTS conducted membership drives, with current members renewing their membership and expanding on their services, including donation amounts. The combined contributions from the community and membership drive nearly doubled the amount NM Arts grant would have awarded, ensuring the program continues into the unforeseeable future.
“In our community, art isn’t a thing that we do. It’s a way of life,” Eason said. “Our community is rooted in that understanding.”
