Students from Amy Biehl High School and Lew Wallace Elementary have contributed their artistic talents to a new Downtown art trail in Albuquerque. On November 14, the trail was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by District 2 City Councilor Joaquín Baca and officials from Albuquerque Public Schools.

The initiative is part of the Creative Campus projects aimed at fostering innovation and community engagement through art. Melanie Telles, principal of Lew Wallace Elementary, emphasized the importance of arts in education: “Supporting Creative Campus initiatives is essential to fostering innovation, expression and community,” she said. “Arts are at the heart of a vibrant, forward-thinking education.”

Tanya Silva, a Fine Arts educator involved in the project, highlighted the impact students can have on their communities: “Volunteering in our Downtown community connects us with the heart of our city, where each student can make a lasting impact,” she noted. She added that efforts like these contribute to building "a legacy of creativity, community and growth."

The artwork along the trail aims to enhance pedestrian experiences by transforming everyday spaces into vibrant displays. The trail also serves as a guide for residents to local businesses and services while promoting neighborhood connectivity.

Councilor Baca underscored the significance of cultural investments alongside economic ones: “Community investment improves neighborhoods,” he stated. “We often speak in terms of economic investments, but the cultural investment made here with the artwork from these students is just as important for our future.”