REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS, AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE.

WE HAVE SUCH A TREAT TODAY, OUR GUEST IS DEBRA GARCIA Y GRIEGO AND SHE'S THE CABINET SECRETARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, A PHENOMENAL JOB.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS I'VE ASKED YOU HERE, YOU ARE OFFERING SO MANY DELIGHTS AND DIVERSIONS, EXPERIENCES, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR THE CITIZENS OF NEW MEXICO AND THEIR GUESTS, SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE NEW MEXICO TO COME AND SEE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING.

BUT FIRST, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO MENTION, YOU ARE A CABINET SECRETARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, WHICH IS THE LARGEST STATE SPONSORED MUSEUM SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHEW, AND IT INCLUDES MUSEUMS AND SITES AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS.

YOUR MUSEUMS WELCOME A MILLION VISITORS A YEAR AND MORE THAN 3 MILLION RESIDENTS AND THEIR GUESTS COME AND ARE SERVED BY YOUR PROGRAMS, SO THANK YOU.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND FIRST, BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN AMAZING BACKGROUND FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

>>DEBRA: WELL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE AND THERE'S NOTHING I LOVE MORE LOVE MORE THAN TALKING ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT.

SO, BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, I'M A NATIVE NEW MEXICAN, BORN AND RAISED IN SANTA FE, I'M A GRADUATE OF SANTA FE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.

I HAVE A BFA IN ART HISTORY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO IN ALBUQUERQUE, AND I HAVE A MASTER'S IN ARTS ADMINISTRATION FROM THE SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO.

I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SPENDING MY ENTIRE ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL CAREER WORKING IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR, IT'S WHAT I LOVE, AND I'M BLESSED TO HAVE FOUND A NICHE WORKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF ARTS AND CULTURE AND GOVERNMENT, WHICH ISN'T SOMETHING THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK ABOUT, BUT THAT INTERSECTION DOES EXIST, AND IT'S WHAT I LOVE TO DO.

SO I HAVE WORKED IN A VARIETY OF CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, MY VERY FIRST JOB WAS ACTUALLY IN A LIBRARY.

SO I STARTED OUT IN THE LIBRARY, I ALSO HAVE A PERFORMING ARTS BACKGROUND, HAVING WORKED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS FOR THE SCHOOL OF THEATER AND DANCE.

I THEN WENT TO CHICAGO, WHERE I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING FOR CHICAGO A CAPELLA, WHICH IS A SMALL A CAPPELLA GROUP THAT DOES PHENOMENAL WORK.

AT THE TIME I WORKED FOR THEM, THEY REALLY SPECIALIZED IN PALESTRINA, THEY'VE SINCE EXPANDED THEIR PURVIEW AND THERE'S SOME NICE SANTA FE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE FOUNDING DIRECTORS AND THE SINGERS AND SANTA FE THROUGH THE SANTA FE DESERT CHORALE.

SO THAT WAS, AS A NEW MEXICO GIRL WHO FOUND HERSELF IN CHICAGO.

THAT WAS A NICE LITTLE HOMETOWN CONNECTION.

THEN I MOVED ON FROM THERE TO WORK FOR AN ORGANIZATION CALLED MUSEUM CAMPUS CHICAGO, WHICH WAS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ADLER PLANETARIUM, THE FIELD MUSEUM, THE SHEDD AQUARIUM, AND THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT, SO WE WORKED FOR ALL FOUR ORGANIZATIONS ON CROSS MARKETING, CROSS VISITOR SERVICES AND EDUCATION.

SO IT WAS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY, THEY MOVED US, I THINK IT WAS EVERY THREE MONTHS THEY MOVED US TO A DIFFERENT MUSEUM, A DIFFERENT OFFICE, SO WE GOT TO WORK WITH ALL OF THOSE STAFF.

>>LORENE: WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL.

WELL, I SEE YOU'VE TAKEN THAT BACKGROUND IN THAT CROSS CULTURAL AND CROSS AGENCY CONNECTIONS TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW, BECAUSE YOU REALLY BRING A NEW VISION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.

SO, TALK TO ME A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WHAT YOUR VISION IS, WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE US, AND WE'RE WILLING TO GO.

>>DEBRA: THANK YOU, I WAS LUCKY TO MOVE BACK FROM CHICAGO AND END UP WORKING FOR THE CITY OF SANTA FE ARTS COMMISSION.

I SPENT 18 YEARS WORKING THERE, AND WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND WORK FOR OUR GOVERNOR FOR THIS INCREDIBLE AGENCY CAME UP, I JUMPED AT IT.

IT IS A REALLY PHENOMENAL DEPARTMENT AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S THE LARGEST STATE RUN MUSEUM SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.

IT'S ALSO ARGUABLY THE BROADEST AND LARGEST CABINET LEVEL, CULTURAL AGENCY IN THE COUNTRY.

>>LORENE: IN THE COUNTRY.

>>DEBRA: I AM NEARLY PEERLESS IN TERMS OF BEING A CABINET SECRETARY WHO REPORTS TO THE GOVERNOR, SO I FEEL LIKE IN A STATE THAT OFTENTIMES FINDS ITSELF STRUGGLING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST, MORE NEW MEXICANS NEED TO KNOW THAT WE ARE A LEADER IN ARTS AND CULTURE, AND THAT WE PRIORITIZE IT, AND WE REALLY NEED TO STAND UP AND BE PROUD OF THE INVESTMENT THAT OUR STATE MAKES IN CULTURE OF ALL KINDS.

SO THE DEPARTMENT IS BROADER THAN ANYBODY KNOWS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS US FOR OUR WONDERFUL SEVEN MUSEUMS AROUND THE STATE, AS WELL AS OUR HISPANIC CULTURAL CENTER DOWN IN ALBUQUERQUE, OUR EIGHT HISTORIC SITES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE NEW MEXICO ARTS, WHICH IS OUR STATEWIDE ARTS AGENCY AND JUST AS A FRAME OF REFERENCE, MOST STATES, THE STATEWIDE ARTS AGENCY IS THEIR HIGHEST-LEVEL GOVERNMENT AGENCY FOR THE ARTS, SO THAT IS ACTUALLY JUST ONE OF OUR DIVISIONS.

WE ALSO HAVE THE OFFICE OF ARCHEOLOGICAL STUDIES, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND OUR BELOVED STATE LIBRARY SYSTEM.

>>LORENE: OH, YES, YES.

SO YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION, I THINK THAT'S WHAT NEW MEXICANS HAVE TO BANK ON, BECAUSE NEW MEXICANS ARE SO PROUD OF OUR CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL ALL OF THESE TRADITIONS, AND THEY DON'T WANT THEM TO BE KIND OF LOST IN THE MONETARY MODERNIZATION AND HURRY UP, THE FAST PACED, BECAUSE TIME IS A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE THINGS YOU'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE.

AND SO, HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF, SLIDING INTO HOME BASE, TRYING TO PRESERVE SOMETHING THAT SOME DEVELOPMENT OR DEVELOPER OR ORGANIZATION IS JUST TRYING TO GET RID OF WITHOUT RESPECTING ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN TERMS OF HISTORY AND CULTURE.

>>DEBRA: SO THE APPROACH WE TAKE TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION THROUGH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE AND THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER IS A COMBINATION OF BOTH A STATE AND FEDERAL ROLE.

SO WHAT WE CALL THE SHPO, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER, HAS BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE RESPONSIBILITIES.

WHAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, PARTICULARLY FROM COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE VERY STRONG LOCAL PRESERVATION ORDINANCES AND PLANNING AGENCIES THAT HANDLE THAT, IS WE ARE REALLY NOT AN ENFORCING AGENCY, WE ARE A CONSULTING AGENCY.

AND SO HOW WE APPROACH WORKING ON PRESERVATION PROJECTS IS TO VISIT WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, TO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY INPUT AND TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE AND HOW WE CAN MITIGATE ANY NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

AND IF ULTIMATELY, THE DECISION IS TO HAVE TO PART WITH A HISTORIC STRUCTURE, THAT MITIGATION FACTORS REALLY AROUND DOCUMENTATION, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE RECORDS, ADEQUATE PHOTOGRAPHS, COMMUNITY STORIES THAT PRESERVE AT LEAST THAT THAT BUILDING WAS THERE.

NOW, THOSE ARE SOME PRETTY RARE INSTANCES, MORE OFTEN THE APPROACH IS HOW WE CAN WORK ON A REHABILITATION FOR INSTANCE, THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR FIRE, SECURITY, BASIC PUBLIC SAFETY IN A HISTORIC STRUCTURE IN A WAY THAT KEEPS THAT AS INTACT AS POSSIBLE.

SO THAT'S REALLY MORE HOW WE APPROACH IT, WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE LOCAL PRESERVATIONISTS THAT HAVE MORE OF AN ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY.

>>LORENE: SO I LIVE IN AGUA FRIA VILLAGE.

>>DEBRA: WONDERFUL.

>>LORENE: THEY JUST TORE DOWN, DESTROYED TO THE GROUND, A WPA ADOBE BUILDING THAT WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL AGUA FRIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND PEOPLE WERE GOING BY AND TAKING PICTURES AND NOW IT'S JUST A PILE OF RUBBLE, I'M SURE THEY'LL CLEAR IT, BUT IT WAS VERY HARD, NOT ONLY A VILLAGE, A TRADITIONAL HISTORICAL VILLAGE OF 3500 PEOPLE, BUT THAT SCHOOL AND THOSE BUILDINGS MEANT A LOT, AND THEY HAD TRIED TO SAVE IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT ALLIES TO SAVE IT AND NOW IT'S GONE.

AND I'M SURE THEY'LL PUT IN SOME SNAZZY NEW BUILDING, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S AGAIN, BEING A TRADITIONAL VILLAGE, WE WANTED OUR TRADITIONAL STRUCTURES.

>>DEBRA: YEAH, THAT TRADITIONAL, HISTORIC, COMMUNITY DESIGNATION THAT EXISTS WITHIN SANTA FE COUNTY AND THE SANTA FE COUNTY LAND USE CODE IS REALLY SPECIAL AND A REALLY IMPORTANT WAY OF PROTECTING, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO IT AND TRY TO PROTECT THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE REALITY IS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COSTS A LOT OF MONEY, THERE'S A WONDERFUL TAX CREDIT PROGRAM THROUGH THE STATE WHERE PROPERTY OWNERS CAN ACTUALLY GET A REBATE ON THEIR TAXES FOR UNDERTAKING HISTORIC REHABILITATION PROJECTS.

AND, WE PUT UP MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR IN THOSE TAX CREDITS, SO THAT'S ONE WAY THAT THE STATE TRIES TO HELP ENTITIES PRESERVE BUILDINGS, I'M ALSO PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE WERE PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S LEGACY FUND PROJECT, WHICH PROVIDES FUNDING FOR US TO HELP SUPPORT THE REHABILITATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF GOVERNMENT OWNED BUILDINGS THAT WE JUST MADE, I BELIEVE A $250,000 GRANT TO THE CITY OF SANTA FE TO WORK ON OUR BELOVED PUBLIC LIBRARY, PRESERVING OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY.

>>LORENE: GOOD, I LOVE OUR LIBRARY.

>>DEBRA: SO IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT OCCASIONALLY WE DO LOSE HISTORIC BUILDINGS, AGAIN WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO DOCUMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS KEPT, BUT WE ALSO DO TRY TO PROVIDE FUNDING SO THAT MUNICIPALITIES AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SOME FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO OFFSET THAT INCREASED COST OF HISTORIC REHABILITATION.

>>LORENE: RIGHT AND EVEN TO THE WEST OF THE CAPITAL THERE ARE FOUR CASITAS, THEY'RE GOING TO TEAR THEM DOWN AND I THINK IT'S NOW CITY, STATE, COUNTY AND FEDS AND WOULD PUT UP A BIG PARKING STRUCTURE, THEY WERE TRYING TO SAVE THEM AND OUR STATE SENATOR, PETER WIRTH, WAS WORKING ON SAVING THEM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT STANDS NOW.

BUT PEOPLE DO GET GALVANIZED, THESE WERE 1920S, 30S ADOBE CASITAS AND THEY THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE YOU COULD JUST MOVE THE PARKING STRUCTURE OVER A LITTLE AND WE COULD KEEP THESE, BUT WE'LL SEE, RIGHT NOW IT'S INDETERMINED.

>>DEBRA: SO I REALLY THINK IT GOES TO THE LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW MUCH PEOPLE DO GALVANIZE AROUND THOSE ISSUES, GOES TO HOW IMPORTANT CULTURE, IN ALL ITS MANY FORMS, INCLUDING OUR HISTORIC BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND OUR HISTORIC LANDSCAPES ARE IN NEW MEXICO AND I HAVE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEW THAT CULTURE IS REALLY THE WAY THAT WE AS PEOPLE, INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES, GROUPS, DEVELOP RESILIENCY.

SO IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT DIFFICULT TIMES IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL LIFE, THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU TURN TO THAT ARE MANIFESTATIONS OF CULTURE.

THEY MAY BE YOUR RELIGION, THEY MAY BE YOUR FOOD, THEY MAY BE A DANCE OR CEREMONY, WAYS THAT YOU HONOR PASSAGES AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHAT CULTURE REALLY IS.

AND I THINK IT GOES TO EXPLAIN WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT IN NEW MEXICO, WHY THE NEW MEXICO GOVERNORS AND LEGISLATORS HAVE TAKEN IT, HISTORICALLY, SO IMPORTANT AND FUNDED IT TO THE LEVEL BECAUSE NEW MEXICO IS HISTORICALLY A HARD PLACE TO LIVE, IT TAKES A LOT OF RESILIENCY, HISTORICALLY AND CONTEMPORARY, TO LIVE IN THIS STATE.

BUT I THINK AS A RESULT, WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL CULTURE THAT HAS BLOSSOMED, AND WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S HOW WE PERSIST AS A PEOPLE AND WE PERSIST AS A STATE.

>>LORENE: AND IT'S TRUE BECAUSE WE'RE ONE OF THE POOREST STATES AND DRIEST STATES AND WE HAVE A LOT GOING AGAINST US.

AND YET NEW MEXICANS ARE PASSIONATE, I MEAN, ARE WE MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR STATE THAN OTHER STATES ARE, I MEAN, EVERYONE IN TEXAS LOOK AT HOW THEY ARE ABOUT THEIR STATE AND NEW YORK, YOU KNOW.

I GUESS THERE'S A HUGE LEVEL OF LOYALTY TO YOUR HOME BASE, BUT I THINK SOMEHOW HERE IT FEELS LIKE YOU SAID, IT APPLIES ON SO MANY LEVELS, FROM FOOD TO LANGUAGE TO DANCING TO MUSIC, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST ALL CELEBRATED AND EMBRACED AND PRESERVED.

>>DEBRA: AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE I HAVE A SINGULAR, QUANTIFIABLE DATA POINT THAT CAN ATTEST TO HOW IMPORTANT THAT I THINK IT IS IN NEW MEXICO.

WE'VE RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS, FULL DISCLOSURE, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ON THAT BOARD, BUT EVERY YEAR DO A STUDY CALLED EVERY TWO YEARS, DO A STUDY CALLED AMERICAN ARTS AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.

WE PARTICIPATED IN THE SIXTH STUDY, OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS, NEARLY 90% SAID THAT THE EVENT OR VENUE THEY WERE ATTENDING ADDED IMPORTANT VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH IT RESIDES.

SO I THINK 90% OF NEW MEXICANS, I MEAN, WE CAN EXTRAPOLATE THAT 90% OF NEW MEXICANS BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

>>LORENE: WELL, THANK YOU.

WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH DEBRA GARCIA Y GREIGO AND SHE IS A CABINET SECRETARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU ENTICE US, YOU'RE PUTTING ON SO MANY EVENTS OF THE WHOLE STATE AND WHAT I LOVE ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING THAT I THINK IS SO VISIONARY, YOU'RE NOT PULLING CALIFORNIANS AND TEXANS AND PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES HERE, YOU WANT TO GET PEOPLE IN THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE TO GO TO OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, PERFECT SUMMER TRIP, THROW THE KIDS IN THE CAR AND HEAD UP KITTY CORNER FROM WHERE YOU ARE IN THE STATE AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

SO THERE IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF EVENTS GOING ON, AND I AM HOPING THAT YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE WHERE THEY CAN GO ON THEIR FREE PASSES AND DISCOUNTED THIS AND THAT, AND IF YOU CAN JUST SPEND A LITTLE TIME TELLING NEW MEXICANS AND THEIR GUESTS WHAT'S AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW FOR THE SUMMER.

>>DEBRA: I WILL TRY TO BE AS SUCCINCT AS POSSIBLE, WE COULD PROBABLY FILL, YOU KNOW, HOURS WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.

>>LORENE: OH YAY.

>>DEBRA: SO THE BEST SOURCE OF INFORMATION IS NMCULTURE.ORG, THAT IS OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN GET TO ALL OF OUR WEBSITES AND EVENTS OFF OF THAT.

WE HAVE FACILITIES FROM MESILLA IN LAS CRUCES ALL THE WAY TO ALCALDE, SO THERE IS SOMETHING NEAR YOU TO SEE.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT, WE REALLY DO FOCUS ON NEW MEXICANS, THAT'S OUR STATUTORY MANDATE, TO EDUCATE ALL NEW MEXICANS, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN OF OUR STATE.

AND SO WE TRY TO MAKE IT AS AFFORDABLE AS POSSIBLE, OUR BASE ADMISSION RATES FOR NEW MEXICANS ARE INCREDIBLY REASONABLE, THEY'RE REALLY AROUND $12 TO $7, DEPENDING ON THE PLACE, IN MOST OF OUR SITES AND MUSEUMS, CHILDREN 16 UNDER GET IN FREE, SO A FAMILY CAN COME FOR THE COST OF A COUPLE OF ADULTS.

RIGHT NOW, BETWEEN MEMORIAL DAY AND LABOR DAY, WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO BE PART OF THE BLUE STAR FAMILIES PROGRAM, BLUE STAR MUSEUM PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS MEMBERS OF ACTIVE DUTY AND THEIR FAMILIES TO GET INTO OUR SITES FOR FREE.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS HAVE THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION, SHOW IT AT OUR FRONT DESK AND I DO WANT TO SAY, FOR OUR FOLKS WHO MAY BE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE, THAT ACTUALLY EXTENDS TO PERSONNEL AT FORT BLISS.

SO PLEASE COME TO FARM AND RANCH, COME TO THE SPACE HISTORY MUSEUM, FARM AND RANCHES IN LAS CRUCES, SPACE HISTORY MUSEUM IN ALAMOGORDO, FORT SELDEN JUST NORTH OF LAS CRUCES.

WE ALSO HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM, SEE YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARY, YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY LIBRARY SHOULD HAVE WHAT IS CALLED A DCA FAMILY PASS.

YOU CHECK THAT OUT LIKE A BOOK, IT GETS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY INTO EVERY SITE FOR FREE.

>>LORENE: OH MY GOSH.

OKAY.

>>DEBRA: I RECOMMEND IT FOR SPRING BREAK, CHRISTMAS BREAK, SUMMER BREAK, GO AND CHECK THAT OUT AND GET THAT.

>>LORENE: SO YOU JUST CHECK IT OUT LIKE A BOOK.

YOU GO TO THE CHECKOUT DESK AND YOU SAY, I WANT TO CHECK OUT A DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS CULTURE PASS, FAMILY PASS, AND YOU GET IN FREE EVERYWHERE FOR A MONTH.

>>DEBRA: YOU GET IN FREE EVERYWHERE FOR THE PERIOD OF THE CHECKOUT.

YOU CAN ALSO, SENIORS 55 AND OLDER, GET INTO ALL OUR MUSEUMS AND HISTORIC SITES FOR FREE ON WEDNESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS IS A GREAT DAY TO GO, IT'S A LITTLE BIT QUIETER, IT'S MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

SO IF YOU'RE 55 AND OVER, GET ON THE TRAIN, COME TO SANTA FE, SPEND THE DAY LOOKING AT THE MUSEUMS HERE IN SANTA FE FOR FREE.

WE ALSO ARE REALLY PLEASED TO BE PART OF A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS FOSTER CHILDREN AND THEIR FOSTER FAMILIES OR THEIR FOSTER GUARDIANS INTO ALL OF OUR MUSEUMS FOR FREE.

YOU JUST NEED TO SHOW YOU A LITTLE FOSTER FAMILY PASS, AND YOU AND YOUR FOSTER CHILD, PLUS ANY OTHER CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY GET IN FOR FREE.

AND THEN THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH, ALL OF THE SANTA FE MUSEUMS ARE FREE AS ARE OUR JEMEZ CORONADO AND ALL OF OUR HISTORIC SITES.

SO THERE'S A TON OF WAYS TO GET THEM FOR FREE, THERE'S A TON OF PROGRAMS AND LIKE I SAID, I COULD GO ON FOREVER, BUT SOME QUICK HIGHLIGHTS UP AT THE MUSEUM OF ART IN SANTA FE.

THE SECOND FRIDAY IN JULY, WE ARE OPENING A BRAND-NEW EXHIBIT DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT CALLED SAINTS AND SANTOS, DOWN IN ON THE MESILLA PLAZA ON AUGUST 22ND, WE WILL BE HAVING THE TAYLOR-MESILLA HISTORIC SITE FAMILY EVENT.

THAT'S A FREE EVENT, WE'LL HAVE BOOTHS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND YOU'LL GET TO BE A PART OF THE SOON TO BE OPEN, IN THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF, TAYLOR-MESILLA HISTORIC SITE.

RETURNING TO THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM IN ALBUQUERQUE, WHICH IS, OF COURSE A FAMILY FAVORITE, RIGHT NOW YOU CAN DO A LITTLE BONUS VISIT AND GO TO THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, SEE ALL OF THEIR EXHIBITS, BUT YOU CAN ALSO SEE A TRAVELING EXHIBIT FROM THE SPACE HISTORY MUSEUM CALLED SCIENCE FACTS, SCIENCE FICTION, SO THAT'S A LOOK AT HOW SCIENCE FICTION HAS ACTUALLY INFLUENCED SCIENCE AND RESULTED IN SOME REALLY INTERESTING THINGS THAT YOU USE EVERY DAY.

>>LORENE: AND THAT'S AT THE ALBUQUERQUE MUSEUM.

>>DEBRA: AT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM IN ALBUQUERQUE.

SO YOU LEARN THE BACKGROUND ON THINGS LIKE CREDIT CARDS, CELL PHONES AND TASERS, THAT ALL CAME OUT OF SCIENCE FICTION.

IF YOU WANT TO GO TO ALAMOGORDO AND GO TO THE SPACE HISTORY MUSEUM, YOU CAN SEE A BRAND-NEW TEMPORARY EXHIBIT CALLED LEGOS TO LUNCH BOXES, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE, IT'S A POP CULTURE VIEW OF THOSE AND, ALL SORTS OF REALLY COOL VINTAGE, ITEMS ON DISPLAY THERE.

AND THEN IF YOU'RE NOT QUITE ONE FOR GETTING OUT IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER, YOU'RE ALREADY BOOKED UP, YOU COULD LOOK TO COME TO LOS LUCEROS IN OCTOBER FOR OUR HARVEST FESTIVAL, COME AND PICK SOME APPLES, ENJOY MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, TOUR OF THE SITE.

GOSH, I COULD GO ON AND ON, NMCULTURE.ORG >>LORENE: I AM SO PLEASED BECAUSE I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE MIDDLE OF JULY BY THE TIME THIS AIRS AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR EXPEDITIONS AND WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO AND THE FACT THAT SO MANY OF THESE ARE FREE OR VERY LOW COST AND IF YOU GET THE CULTURE PASS, MY GOODNESS, YOU CAN JUST ZIP AROUND, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD REALLY, A DEDICATED PERSON COULD GET A LOT OF MILEAGE OUT OF PASS LIKE THAT.

>>DEBRA: YOU REALLY COULD AND THERE'S SOME REALLY NICE ITINERARIES THAT CAN LINK OUR HISTORIC SITES TO SOME OF OUR MUSEUMS AND OF COURSE, EVERY COMMUNITY HAS ITS OWN OFFERING OF THINGS TO DO.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN VISIT THE LINCOLN AND FORT SELDEN HISTORIC SITES AND ALSO SMOKEY BEAR STATE PARK AND CAPITAN, GO OVER TO ROSWELL, LOOK AT ALL OF THE WONDERFUL CULTURAL OFFERINGS THAT ROSWELL HAS, THE ANDERSON MUSEUM.

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU START TO BUILD AN ITINERARY BASED AROUND OUR SITES AND VISITING ALL THE OTHER RESOURCES THAT WE OFTEN SUPPORT THROUGH NEW MEXICO ARTS AND GRANT PROGRAMS.

>>LORENE: RIGHT, NOW, I MEAN, I'M HAPPY TO HELP YOU GET THE WORD OUT, BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE A REALLY, ACTIVE AND DYNAMIC PUBLIC INFORMATION TEAM AND PR PEOPLE, AND SO ARE YOU YOURSELF TRAVELING, ISN'T THERE CABINET TO COUNTIES, IS THAT WHAT THAT WAS?

>>DEBRA: YES.

>>LORENE: CABINET IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT IS THAT?

>>DEBRA: CABINET IN THE COMMUNITY IS A WONDERFUL INITIATIVE OF THE GOVERNOR AND HER OFFICE TO TAKE THE CABINET, THE FULL CABINET OUT TO COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE.

SO IN MAY WE WERE IN FARMINGTON, AND NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY WE'RE GOING TO BE IN CLOVIS AND PORTALES, AND THEY'RE, WONDERFUL EVENTS.

WE HAVE A RESOURCE FAIR, SO EVERY AGENCY HAS A TABLE SET UP, TONS OF GIVEAWAYS, REALLY COOL GIVEAWAYS FROM ALL OF THE STATE AGENCIES, BUT ALSO PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP YOU NAVIGATE ISSUES YOU MAY BE HAVING.

IF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS, IF YOU NEED A DRIVER'S LICENSE, GREAT SET OF RESOURCES THAT WE TAKE AND THEN THE GOVERNOR AND HER CABINET HAVE A TOWN HALL WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HEARS THEIR CONCERNS AND WORKS ON RESOLVING ISSUES.

A GREAT STORY COMING OUT OF SHIPROCK WHEN WE WERE IN FARMINGTON, WE ALSO WENT TO SHIPROCK AND HAD A TOWN HALL THERE, A WONDERFUL YOUNG GIRL STOOD UP AND BASICALLY COMPLAINED THAT HER SCHOOL DID NOT HAVE MONEY TO SEND THEIR CLASS ON A FIELD TRIP.

ON THE SPOT, I WAS ABLE TO COMMIT TO GETTING OUR MOBILE VAN, WHICH IS ANOTHER THING WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT, WE HAVE WONDERS ON WHEELS, WHICH IS A MOBILE EXHIBITION THAT TRAVELS ALL AROUND THE STATE.

SO THAT IS PAYING A VISIT UP TO SHIPROCK SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A WONDERFUL EXHIBIT FROM THE FARM AND RANCH MUSEUM TO SHIPROCK, SINCE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD BUSSES FOR TRANSPORTATION, BUT THEN ALSO DOT WAS ABLE TO GET SOME PRIVATE FUNDING, A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS, ON THE SPOT, TO SUPPORT BUSSES.

SO WE'RE THERE TO HEAR PEOPLE, WE'RE THERE TO HEAR PROBLEMS, BIG AND SMALL, AND WE'RE THERE TO TAKE ACTION ON THOSE PROBLEMS.

SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, THE CLOVIS AND PORTALES COMMUNITIES, TO COME OUT FOR THOSE EVENTS.

>>LORENE: AND THOSE EVENTS ARE VERY EFFECTIVE.

I KNOW, THE GOVERNOR DID ONE UP BY THE FIRES AT HERMITS PEAK CANYON FIRES AND THE PEOPLE STOOD UP AND SAID THEY PROMISED, THE FEDS STARTED THIS FIRE, THEY WOULD PAY EVERYTHING, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYTHING.

IT'S BEEN ONE YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS, AND SO SHE REALLY WALKED BACK ON HER HEELS AND SAID, "WELL, THAT'S NOT RIGHT" AND SHE'S HELPING MOVE IT FORWARD.

IT'S KIND OF HARD TO MOVE THE FEDS FORWARD, BUT I THINK SHE'S MADE SOME STATE MONEY AVAILABLE TO TIDE PEOPLE OVER UNTIL THE FEDS ACTUALLY DO WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE LOST YOUR HOME AND NOW THERE'S FLASH FLOODING AND WHERE THE BURN SCAR IS, AND THESE PEOPLE, THEY JUST CAN'T CATCH A BREAK.

AND SO FOR SOMEONE TO SAY WE'LL GIVE YOU HOUSING, WE'LL REIMBURSE YOU FOR THE CAR THAT GOT SWEPT DOWNSTREAM IN THE FLASH FLOODS, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO CAN HELP, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

>>DEBRA: IT REALLY IS.

AS A STATE AGENCY COLLECTIVELY, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE CAPACITY TO MOBILIZE TOGETHER UNDER HER LEADERSHIP TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

AND THAT IS AN ETHOS OF THE GOVERNOR AND OF THIS CABINET THAT WE GET TO, YES, THAT WE WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY CONSTITUENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE THAT IS FACING THEM AND THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BRING THEM SATISFACTION.

AND THAT'S THE REASON THESE COMMUNITY CABINET AND YOUR COMMUNITY EVENTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE CAN'T TACKLE A PROBLEM THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT AND AGAIN, THERE'S NOTHING TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL TO BRING UP AT THESE THINGS, SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE BACK IN THERE.

AND IF YOU'RE NOT THE TYPE OF PERSON TO STAND UP AT A TOWN HALL AND SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE IS.

>>LORENE: WRITE THEM A LETTER.

>>DEBRA: YOU CAN COME TO THE RESOURCE FAIR AND YOU CAN TALK DIRECTLY WITH THE STAFF.

WE ALL HAVE LOGS OF CONSTITUENT ISSUES, WE ALL HAVE STAFF THERE THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP RESOLVE PROBLEMS.

SO IF STANDING UP IN A PUBLIC MEETING AND AIRING YOUR GRIEVANCE IS REALLY NOT YOUR STYLE, GO TO THE RESOURCE FAIR AND TALK ONE ON ONE WITH A STAFF PERSON AT ANYBODY'S TABLE AND THEY CAN HELP GET THAT RESOLVED.

THEY ARE REALLY WONDERFUL EVENTS AND OF COURSE THEY'RE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND SEE THE REST OF THE STATE AND BE PRESENT.

IF JUST SHOWING UP IS THE BIGGEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE THEM IS A GIFT OF TIME AND BEING PRESENT, BE PRESENT WITH THEM.

>>LORENE: BUT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS.

I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I TOOK SOME GUESTS TO THE REBUILT KIVA IN AZTEC AND THERE'S A BUTTON YOU CAN PRESS WHERE IT WILL HAVE THE CHANTING AND THE CEREMONY, OF COURSE, RECORDED.

AND SO I REMEMBER SOMEBODY PUSHING THE BUTTON WHILE THIS GROUP OF TOURISTS WAS IN THERE, IT WAS MAGIC, IT WAS JUST MAGIC.

THEY REALLY FELT LIKE THEY WERE PART OF SOMETHING THAT WAS HAPPENING IN A HOLY PLACE.

>>DEBRA: THERE ARE CULTURAL TREASURES EVERYWHERE AROUND THE STATE.

I'M GOING TO PUT IN A PLUG FOR THE FARMINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, BEAUTIFUL ART.

>>LORENE: THE DOORS.

>>DEBRA: THE DOORS.

>>LORENE: WHO CARVED THE DOORS, TOM TAYLOR.

>>DEBRA: THEY WERE CARVED BY TOM, FORMER LEGISLATOR TOM TAYLOR AND HIS WIFE, BEV TAYLOR.

SO FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T SEEN THEM, THEY LOOK LIKE A BOOK, IT'S IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA AND IT LOOKS LIKE A FAIRY TALE BOOK, A WHOLE SET OF DOORS THAT WAS CARVED.

THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL TOUCHES ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THEN, BEV AND TOM ALSO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, COOPERATIVE GALLERY AND STUDIO SPACE.

FLO TRUJILLO, FROM UP THERE, TOOK US AND SHOWED US THEIR MAIN STREET AND ARTS AND CULTURAL DISTRICT AND EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING.

EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE STATE HAS A CULTURAL TREASURE THAT THEY MOST OFTEN WANT PEOPLE TO SHARE.

SO WHETHER IT'S COMING TO A DCA, DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS SITE OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S, GET OUT, EXPLORE YOUR STATE.

DON'T FEEL BAD ABOUT TAKING A STAYCATION, PEOPLE PAY LOTS OF MONEY TO COME HERE AND SEE YOUR BEAUTIFUL STATE.

I USED TO SAY IN SANTA FE ALL THE TIME, AND I'VE STARTED SAYING IT AT THE STATE LEVEL, NEW MEXICANS SHOULD BE FIRST IN LINE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES.

MY DEAR FRIEND, JAVIER GONZALEZ, USED TO SAY THAT SANTA FE HAD THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO GRADUATE STUDENTS WHO WERE CITIZENS OF THE WORLD THROUGH OUR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

I THINK JAVIER WOULD AGREE WITH ME, WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AT THE STATE LEVEL.

GO OUT, THEY ARE FOR YOU.

IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO A MUSEUM BEFORE, DON'T BE SCARED, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MESS ANYTHING UP, GO IN AND SEE IT, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCE IT.

START WITH A HISTORIC SITE WHERE THE KIDS CAN RUN AROUND ON THE TRAILS AND GET A LITTLE BIT MORE WILD BUT GET OUT AND EXPLORE YOUR SITES.

WE HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER.

>>LORENE: WHAT AN INVITATION, I THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS DEBRA GARCIA Y GRIEGO OR GARCIA GRIEGO, CABINET SECRETARY FOR THE HUGE, MASSIVE AND IMPORTANT DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS IN NEW MEXICO.

YOUR INVITATION IS WONDERFUL, I WANT PEOPLE TO GO TO NMCULTURE.ORG TO FIND OUT ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND SHARING ALL THIS WITH US.

>>DEBRA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR INTEREST, IT MEANS SO MUCH.

>>LORENE: AND IT WILL MEAN TO EVERY NEW MEXICAN WHO FOLLOWS UP ON THIS, THEY ARE GOING TO BE TICKLED, JUST DELIGHTED.

WELL THANK YOU AND I'M LORENE MILLS, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON A VERY SPECIAL INVITATION TO YOU FROM OUR CABINET SECRETARY FOR CULTURAL AFFAIRS.

COME AND EXPLORE NEW MEXICO, AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES, AND FROM THE HEALY