At the northwest corner of this once bustling creative campus, the Santa Fe Art Institute, an independent arts organization, has continued to support and amplify dynamic artistic practices that engage complex social issues, inspire individual transformation, and inform collective action. Isolated from other creative nonprofits engaged in similarly important work around the city and surrounded by historical buildings brimming with potential, SFAI is stewarding the creation of the Midtown Arts and Design Alliance. It aims to develop shared creative spaces in adjacent buildings that amplify underrepresented voices and foster equity and unity.

The pressing need to redevelop the northwest corner of the Midtown Campus arises from its unique potential to serve the city’s creative community. The iconic Visual Arts Center (VAC) designed by Ricardo Legorreta, and the historic WWII-era Barracks stand in states of disrepair and disuse. Meanwhile, hundreds of artists and dozens of non-profit organizations lack access to affordable studio, office, and event spaces.