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“The Doña Ana Arts Council (DAAC), one of the key parties in the establishment of the Las Cruces Arts and Cultural District (ACD), is now actually housed in that singular district,” DAAC said in a news release.
DAAC’s new home, 230 S. Water St., is just inside ACD’s southwest corner, the news release said.
“For most of its first 50 years, DAAC was located at several street addresses in what would eventually become the ACD in 2018,” said DAAC Executive Director Greg Smith. “A significant portion of that time, DAAC was rehabilitating and then occupying and managing the historic Rio Grande Theatre (RGT), one of most iconic and significant landmarks in ACD.”
In 2017, DAAC turned RGT management over to the City of Las Cruces and moved to Bulletin Plaza on Avenida de Mesilla.
“The Mesilla Location was beautiful,” Smith said. “Still, considering the Arts Council’s various roles with the ACD and discussions about things like artist live/workspaces being situated there, it made sense to explore what was available near downtown Las Cruces.”
After three years in Mesilla, DAAC moved to a location that Smith described as “spectacular,” a former bank building just outside ACD. The owners worked with DAAC to make what Smith described as a “premier gallery space.” It worked well for almost two years, but new ownership and a different use for the space required moving again, he said.
“We are thrilled to be in such a great spot, and back, if you will, in the ACD,” Smith said about the Water Street location.
Smith praised the work the landlords have done to accommodate DAAC at its new home, the high visibility of the location and “the proximity to so much happening downtown.”
DAAC is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. DAAC hours are extended to 8 p.m. the First Friday of each month and it is open noon-5 p.m. the Second Saturday of each month.
DAAC’s February 2023 events will include “Vindication, Restoration, and New Beginnings,” a solo exhibit of artwork by Georjeanna Feltha, a performance by Las Cruces jazz musician Derrick Lee and “Confessions of an Editorial Cartoonist” with Las Cruces artist Bob Diven.
Friday, Jan. 27 is the deadline to apply for DAAC’s 13th annual Las Cruces Arts Fair, which will be held March 25-26 at the Las Cruces Convention Center. Visit https://daarts.org/festivals/.
For more information, call 575-523-6403 and email director@daarts.org. Visit daarts.org.
