New Mexico Arts Welcomes New Program Coordinator for Folk Arts and Accessibility

State Agency Press Release – From the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs

New Mexico Arts (NMA) is pleased to announce Amy Mills as the Folk Arts and Accessibility Coordinator. She manages programs that support New Mexico’s folk and traditional arts through grantmaking, documentation, public programs, and fieldwork research, as well as advising on accessibility best practices.

From 2016-2023, Mills worked for the National Council for the Traditional Arts, designing and producing national folk festivals in five states and supporting partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts and National Park Service. She has also served as programs manager at the Western Folklife Center, managing the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering and other regional programs. Other roles have included Northwest Folklife program coordinator, cultural historian, documentary filmmaker, dance teacher, and project manager for a computer company.

“We are fortunate to have Amy join NMA and the grants team. Her connections to New Mexico and experience at the national and regional level in Traditional Folk Arts will be invaluable to working with Folk Artists and arts organizations in the state,” said Anna Blyth, Grants Program Director. “Our constituents and our division will benefit from working with someone with her expertise and enthusiasm.”

In her new role with NMA, Mills will oversee grants that support Traditional Folk Arts Projects presented by organizations; and develop and support Traditional Folk Arts Master Artists and Apprentices to ensure that traditional art forms are passed on and protected. She will also serve as the division’s Accessibility Coordinator providing resources and serving as the point of contact for accessibility-related issues for the division.

“Growing up in northern New Mexico, I was raised to appreciate not only the desert beauty of this land but also the warmth, creativity, and adaptability of its many peoples. I’m thrilled to be home and energized to find ways to support folk artists and communities across the state,” said Mills.

Mills holds dual master’s degrees in anthropology and folklore from the University of Oregon, and bachelor’s degrees in anthropology, history, and international studies from the University of Washington. She grew up in New Mexico and is thrilled to return home to support the state’s folk artists and traditional communities.