Fine Arts

Fine Arts provides a comprehensive program of fine arts education, K-12, designed to make a significant contribution to student learning and personal growth.

In our 90 elementary schools, we:

• Provide direct instruction in music and visual arts to all students.
• Hire, supervise, and provide professional development for certified art and music teachers.
• Provide consumable supplies and equipment for arts instruction at no cost to schools.
• Provide professional development for classroom teachers.
• Work with community groups to coordinate annual district-wide arts events, including NM Symphony Orchestra concerts & programs; Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Tour Performances; Popejoy Hall Schooltime Series; UNM Music Prep School & many others.
• Coordinate “Art is Elementary,” the annual district exhibit of elementary art; the annual fourth and fifth grade elementary Honor Choir concerts; and the APS art exhibit at the NM State Fair.
• Provide advocacy at the local and state levels for the advancement of arts education.

In our 27 middle schools and 13 high schools, we:

• Work with Human Resources to staff band, chorus and orchestra positions.
• Fund bus transportation for high school bands to perform at home football games.
• Coordinate and review bids for replacement of worn and non-repairable school instruments.
• Coordinate or assist with district music, art, photography and drama festivals.

Throughout the district, we:

• Oversee the Unified ARTS Resource Library, a library of arts-related resources and a professional development resource for any APS staff member in the areas of art, music, dance, drama, and literature.
• Oversee the Music Instrument Repair Department technicians, who repair and maintain all music instruments for middle school and high school music programs.
• Produce FAN Fare, the Fine Arts program quarterly newsletter.