Supporting Cultural Events in Taos
Cultural Events Fund
This program provides financial and technical support for cultural events that invite both locals and visitors to engage in the rich cultural traditions of Northern New Mexico. The Fund welcomes applications from legacy events ready to be revived or strengthened as well as new ideas for cultural events that celebrate our communities.
Congratulations Round 2 Awardees!
Round 2 Awardees Announced!
The second round of the Cultural Events Fund (CEF) grant process has been finalized with the selection of a new cohort of awardees. As was done in the first round, a special group of idea-generators and community leaders applied for assistance from Taos MainStreet and its partners from the Town of Taos and Taos County, to showcase the cultural richness of Taos and Northern New Mexico through grassroots events.
Launched in 2025, the CEF aims to provide a financial boost to non-profit organizations, individuals, businesses and other collectives interested in sharing their respective brands of wisdom and ceremony. This includes new and existing events; and those that have occurred in the past, and have since dropped off.
Similar to the first round – which saw a total of $25,000 awarded to eight different groups – this cohort is made up of eight events slated to occur between June 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027. The range of CEF awards are $1,500 to $5,000 – crowning a total of $50,000 awarded in the two rounds of this first pilot year.
Cambalache: Harvest Festival in Conjunction with Questa Farmers Market
Local Food Fiesta
Re-Earthing Futures Festival at Rio Fernando Park
Fiestas de Taos
Puro Norte Truck, Bike and Car Show
Los Comanches de la Serna Community Event
Taos County Chamber of Commerce / Taos Plaza Live
Cultural Stewardship of Land and Water Across the Rio Fernando de Taos Watershed
PROGRAM GOALS
Born from community voices, the Cultural Events Fund reinvests tourism dollars to celebrate what makes Taos extraordinary: its people, stories, and living traditions. The program uplifts local organizers and creative visionaries who bring culture to life in our shared spaces, inspiring connection, pride, and a sense of belonging for both locals and visitors alike.
FUNDING & ELIGIBILITY
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Individuals, nonprofits, businesses and informal community groups are eligible to apply.
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Celebrate and contribute to the revitalization and/or conservation of cultural traditions, arts and customs of Taos County
Be designed to primarily serve Taos County residents while also being open to others
Be open to public participation and be designed to be equitably accessible to all residents
Take place in Taos County
Occur between June 2026 and December 2026
Events that require paid admission, ticket purchases, or entry fees are not eligible for this round of funding
Please note that small-scale, grassroots efforts that do not have access to other funding will be prioritized for support.
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Event-related expenses (coordinators, materials, venue, marketing, etc.)
Funding available: $1,500 – $5,000
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A cultural event is a gathering or activity that celebrates, preserves, or showcases the traditions, beliefs, arts, history, and customs of a specific community, group, or region. These events often focus on fostering understanding, appreciation, and pride in a shared cultural heritage, and they can serve as a means of cultural exchange between diverse audiences.
Cultural events help honor the unique identity of a group or place and often bring together people from both within and outside the community for shared experiences. Both traditional cultural events and new iterations of cultural events are welcomed. Events celebrating culture specific to northern New Mexico will be favored in the evaluation criteria.
Have questions? Contact us!
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
