Urban Waters Artist in Residence

ALMA Lead Artist Margarita Paz-Pedro has been chosen for the Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District’s Artist in Residence for their Urban Waters program.  She has been working since Spring 2025 and will continue until Summer 2026 along with CSWCD and communities along the Middle Rio Grande (MRG) to design and create public works of art along the MRG.

 

Please join us for a design work session at Tijeras Bio-Zone & ADA Sensory Trail!

Photo of National Hispanic Cultural Center Acequia

AiR Project:

The EPA’s Artist in Residence (AIR) pilot initiative harnesses the power of arts and culture to address critical water quality challenges. Developed in response to President Biden’s Executive Order on Arts and Humanities (EO 14084), this program aims to make environmental issues more accessible and relevant to communities, particularly those that are economically distressed. Initially launched in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the AIR pilot continues to support local artists and culture bearers in six National Estuary Program and Urban Waters Federal Partnership locations. By integrating creative expression with environmental efforts, the initiative seeks to deepen community connections to natural resources and strengthen water quality awareness.

Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District:

The Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), a political subdivision of the state of New Mexico, promotes the conservation, improvement and responsible use of the natural resources on the rural and urban lands within its boundaries.

Responsibilities of Ciudad SWCD vary from erosion control and prevention to promoting the health, safety and general welfare of the people of New Mexico.

Urban Waters:

The vision for the national Urban Waters Federal Partnership is to restore urban water quality, revitalize our communities, and reconnect communities to their urban waterways, particularly those that are overburdened or economically distressed. Each Urban Waters location is designed to meet the needs of their specific watershed or estuary. The Middle Rio Grande Urban Waters Partnership themes are as follows:

  1. Invest in Healthy Watersheds
  2. Engage in Education and Outreach 
  3. Facilitate Economic Revitalization and Prosperity
  4. Foster Active Collaboration and True Partnership

Read more about the Artist in Residence program here

https://www.ciudadswcd.org/urban-waters-artist-in-residence-program


There is an upcoming event that you can attend for free. Here are the event details.

Find Event Details Here!