Moving Arts Española
Supporting the Next Generation
All children deserve a superior arts education that inspires them, a safe place to be after school, and access to nutritious food. Moving Arts Española is providing that to about 450 kids per week. Built out of an extracurricular program at Española Public Schools in the 90’s, Moving Arts Española is a need-responsive arts education center founded by Roger Montoya and Salvador Ruiz-Esquivel.
Children ages 3-18 can stay at Moving Arts after school from 4 to 7 pm. They take classes ranging from Fashion Design to Flamenco, are served a healthy meal, and receive tutoring to support their academic journey. Children are then picked up by their parents — physically tired, bellies full, homework done, and creatively fulfilled. As the kids get older, they are encouraged and nurtured to become community leaders.
Children ages 12-18 are both assistants and instructors in many of the programs. The Santa Fe Community Foundation is proud to have Moving Arts Española among our grantees, and they continue to make astounding impacts on the Española community. As a smiley, eight year-old girl happily told Mr. Montoya one day, “Moving Arts lets me be who I am.”
Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project
Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project is a nonprofit organization focused on education and protection of the cultural landscape of the northern Rio Grande Valley. Working with youth is a core initiative of the project.
Teatro Paraguas
Since 2004, Teatro Paraguas has presented close to 100 contemporary Latinx plays and plays by New Mexico playwrights, as well as poetry readings, flamenco concerts, children's theatre, workshops and community events such as our annual El Día de los Muertos celebration.
Nat Gold Players
Neither fire, nor flood, nor pandemic has prevented Nat Gold Players (NGP) from serving the community of Las Vegas, New Mexico. For over 20 years, the company has used performing arts to entertain, inform, and inspire the people of its service area.
