Taos County announced through a press release that, in partnership with the Taos Community Foundation, they awarded the Taos Center for the Arts (TCA) $400,000 in the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds.
This partnership will support building renovations of 132 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, to serve as a hub for TCA’s Inter-Arts Internship Program and an arts enrichment and education space. The space will support work-based learning opportunities that connect youth and young adults to career pathways throughout the creative economy.
According to a release from the county, they sought to design a connected strategy that creates a launchpad for long-term impact related to economic resiliency and that focuses on local residents and businesses first. That strategy centered on providing youth-to-adult workforce development and business services, while investing in sustainable and existing programs.
The TCA Inter-Arts Internship Program was identified as a leading entity in the county that has a successful track record of providing equitable access to a variety of skill-building opportunities, while also creating a human-centered, culturally relevant and caring environment.
The Inter-Arts Internship Program engages youth and young adults in paid work-based learning opportunities. Arts and culture organizations across Taos County facilitate the program. Experiences focus on digital literacy, technical production, professional development, and administration.
The renovation of 132 Paseo will create a multi-use arts enrichment and education space, serving as a hub for the Inter-Arts Internship Program and community-led endeavors. With the investment of ARPA funds, TCA will be able to serve up to 50 youth each year from across Taos County, and partner with up to 30 arts, cultural, and educational entities for work-learning placements and experiences.
“This is both exciting, and important, as education becomes central to TCA’s community engagement. For decades, TCA has rented 132 Paseo to restaurateurs. With this investment from Taos County, TCA is able to expand on our ability to serve Taos, and in particular, connect to youth. The building will become another part of TCA’s campus that connects arts to the community. We are humbled by this support and look forward to the work ahead,” said Chelsea Reidy, Executive Director of the TCA.
“Taos County is proud to partner with the Taos Center for the Arts, and grateful to the Taos Community Foundation for facilitating this investment. The TCA Inter-Arts Internship Program is working to change the narrative that our youth don’t have opportunities to stay and/or return home and have viable career paths; especially in the creative economy, which is a vital economic and community driver. We believe that the TCA is showing genuine commitment to partner broadly and inclusively, and we are grateful for their hard work to strengthen the social and economic fabric across Taos County,” said Taos County Economic Development Director Jessica Stern.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden on March 11, 2021. It was designed to enable all Americans to respond to and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
Taos County obligated all remaining ARPA funds by the December 31, 2024 deadline.
