Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary for Department of Cultural Affairs | americansforthearts.org
The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and the Museum of New Mexico Press have opened submissions for the 3rd Annual New Mexico Ekphrastic Poetry Contest. The contest features a new selection of artworks inspired by the state's history, present, and future.
Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Cultural Affairs, stated, "Our department is proud to once again showcase a wide variety of art from our museums and historic sites to inspire New Mexicans. As our nation prepares to commemorate 250 years of independence, we’ve selected pieces of art that reflect New Mexico’s unique role in that story."
Each year, divisions within the Department select works from their collections in preparation for National Poetry Month in April. This year's theme is "One Land, Many Stories." Fourteen artworks were chosen by state cultural institutions to represent different aspects of New Mexico's past and its ongoing narrative.
Erin Adair-Hodges, Director of the Museum of New Mexico Press, commented, "Each year, the Ekphrastic Poetry Contest reminds us of the powerful stories on view throughout the Department of Cultural Affairs, inviting New Mexicans to share their own poetry and stories."
Selected artworks include a photograph from the 1894 World’s Fair fruit exhibit held by the New Mexico State Library and an artistic rendering depicting New Mexico’s shoreline as it appeared 250 million years ago from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. The contest aligns with commemorations marking 250 years since U.S. independence and encourages participants to reflect on themes such as shared identity, independence, historical progress, and contributions toward national improvement.
The contest will accept entries until Friday, February 27, 2026. A free poetry workshop hosted by the National Hispanic Cultural Center is scheduled for January to help participants develop their submissions before the deadline.
Poems can be submitted through nmculture.org/poetry by selecting one of three age categories: Kid (ages 9 and younger), Youth (ages 10-18), or Adult (ages 19 and older). Each category will have one first prize winner and up to two finalists. Winners will receive a pair of New Mexico CulturePasses and will be invited to read their poems at a special event in Spring 2026. More information is available at nmculture.org/poetry.
The Department of Cultural Affairs was established in 1978 by state legislation. It manages eight museums and eight historic sites across New Mexico along with programs in arts, archaeology, preservation, and libraries. Collectively these efforts support a cultural industry valued at $5.6 billion statewide.
