site specific public art commission

The Art in Public Places Program of New Mexico Arts and the Local Selection Committee (LSC) of Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) seek to commission an artist/artist team to create and install an artwork to hang from the ceiling in the artium of Smith Brasher Hall located on CNM’s Main Campus in Albuquerque. The commissioned artwork will ideally reference CNM’s commitment to “bridging the workforce,” helping our students move from education to employment,  and the institution’s extensive history responding to, training, and serving the needs of the workforce (both as individuals and as a community) and the workplace.

The LSC will consider the work and practices of artists/artist teams that range from figurative/representational to non-objective/abstract to architectural in nature. Artwork media/construction can be traditional/mixed/experimental in nature but MUST BE constructed out of materials that will survive a permanent installation in an indoor setting with high public traffic and regular exposure to bright light.

The project must be durable, low maintenance, permanent, safe for both children and adults and must meet all applicable code requirements, including ADA compliance. Light and/or lighting elements may be included as components in the design, though if natural light is used, the glare should be kept minimal or non-existent. If kinetic features or components are proposed, the resulting sounds should also be minimal. Designs that use water or water features will not be considered. Access to electricity and other technical needs can be served via connections/ports in the ceiling to accommodate artist’s proposals that engage with new media and technologically reliant components.

At the selected artist’s expense, the artwork may require certification by an electrical, civil and/or structural engineer licensed to practice in the state of New Mexico and reviewed by a professional fine art conservator (if applicable).

Project Timeline

January/February 2026 (3-4 weeks) - Jurying of Submissions by LSC

February 2026 – Notification of 5 Finalists

May 2026 – Finalist Presentations (in-person on CNM campus in Albuquerque; Finalist(s) Selection Notification