A controversial plan to create an Arts and Culture District within the village continues to get pushback. 

The formation of an Arts and Cultural District with Corrales MainStreet at the helm, is moving forward. Corrales MainStreet worked with New Mexico MainStreet on the start-up requirements to create a Cultural Economic Development Plan, (CEDP). The CEDP is a requirement for a state-authorized Arts and Culture District. Proponents and organizers say that the designation of an Arts and Culture District means the village can apply for grants that support the arts and events in Corrales. 

รขโ‚ฌล“They have certain rules and regulations in order to be a district,รขโ‚ฌย said Mayor Jim Fahey. รขโ‚ฌล“Some things weรขโ‚ฌโ„ขve gotten done and some things weรขโ‚ฌโ„ขre still working on.รขโ‚ฌย

But the village and MainStreet organizers have seen quite a lot of backlash from the plans. Many have said the village doesnรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt need an Arts and Culture District, which would just bring in more visitors that the village doesnรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt need. 

รขโ‚ฌล“Folks that are against this have confused the district with the discussions weรขโ‚ฌโ„ขve been having about the new building, which would be a multi-use facility,รขโ‚ฌย Fahey said. รขโ‚ฌล“Thatรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs not what this is. Weรขโ‚ฌโ„ขre not building anything new. This is just calling an area and group of buildings that already exist, and Arts and Culture District so we can get grants and uplift the area.รขโ‚ฌย

Fahey emphasized that thereรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs no cost to residents in the village to complete the designation. 

One of the big things in the plan for the district is a commercial kitchen. รขโ‚ฌล“Corrales is an agricultural village, cooking and agriculture are our culture,รขโ‚ฌย said Fahey.

Get Involved 

The village will host a presentation of the ACD Plan on July 31, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the old gym located at 4324 Corrales Rd. After the presentation, there will be a chance for public comment

To read the plan before that meeting, visit the Corrales MainStreet website at corralesmainstreet.org or by visiting canva.com/design/DAGJ0bhNydA/wIXqEwQ7cBQrV0qZxgG6_A/view.

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