N.M. Economic Development Department holds convention for artists
By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
A recent study by the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research revealed that arts and cultural industries pump $5.6 billion into the state’s economy.
Driven by this significant impact, the Creative Division of the New Mexico Economic Development Department set out on a mission in 2026. They began hosting what they call “CreativeCons” around the state. These events help creative entrepreneurs—such as artists, musicians, makers, and designers—discover the existing resources in their communities that can help their businesses thrive. On April 11, the department brought this initiative to Gallup.
The department hosted a CreativeCon in Gallup on April 11.
In an interview with the Sun, Shani Harvie, the director of the Creative Division, elaborated on the convention’s specific goals.
“We’re at the state level, so we do a lot of work in that area, but there’s a really rich creative economy [locally], and also a really rich support ecosystem that’s already there, and we wanted to get creatives familiar with who the people are in their own communities and areas who can help them navigate and complete projects in the creative industries,” she said.
The convention functioned primarily as a networking tool, while panel discussions featuring local government officials and artists served as educational workshops. During these sessions, local small business owners discussed the specific challenges of the creative industry, the potential rewards, and their personal strategies for managing a business.
Harvie said one of the questions the panelists discussed was “Do you have to leave your region to succeed creatively?”
The responses varied, as panelists offered a “mixed bag” of qualified “yes” and “no” answers.
Akiah Martinez, the founder of Glittering World Girl, serves as a prime example of this complex dynamic. Her organization builds an Indigenous-based circular economic ecosystem that utilizes video art and Extended Reality (XR) technology—an umbrella term for virtual, augmented, and mixed reality.
In 2018, Martinez received an Immersive Technology Fellowship through Crux XR. This opportunity required her to travel to New York City and Los Angeles to study under leading technologists and social entrepreneurs. However, although she left New Mexico to gain this specialized knowledge, she quickly returned home to apply those skills within her community.
Ultimately, Harvie noted that the convention aims to prove to creators that they don’t have to struggle in isolation. By highlighting others who are navigating similar hurdles, the event fostered a sense of solidarity.
“You’re not alone,” Harvie said. “It’s common for it to be both rewarding and difficult at the same time. It’s the nature of the game.”
Harvie said the whole purpose of the convention was to show creators that there are other people trying to build their businesses and navigating the same challenges they might face.
“You’re not alone,” she said. “It’s common for it to be both rewarding and difficult at the same time. It’s the nature of the game.”
The event marked the first CreativeCon in Gallup, but it was the third stop on the Creative Division of the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s tour. Their next stop is in Silver City on April 25, and then they head to the Pueblo of Pojoaque on May 30.
The tour wraps up with an all encompassing convention in Albuquerque on June 6.
The Albuquerque finale will shift from a regional focus to a traditional convention format. This event will feature three specialized workshop tracks: one for hobbyists, one for established creative businesses, and one for policymakers and elected officials. Participants will dive into technical topics, such as calculating hourly rates for artwork, mastering creative marketing, and understanding the legal importance of business registration.
To learn more about the upcoming conventions, visit https://www.edd.newmexico.gov/divisions-and-offices/creative-industries/creativecon/.
