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NAVIGATION

New Mexico School for the Arts Finds a Home

SANTA FE—New Mexico School for Arts has reached an agreement with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe to lease the St. Francis Cathedral School in downtown Santa Fe.

The New Classroom Building

New Mexico School for the Arts, a public, statewide, residential charter high school dedicated to artistic and academic excellence, will open its doors in August 2010 with an estimated 120 students in grades 9 – 11 from around the State of New Mexico. In addition to academics, students will receive training in their chosen art form. Arts offered are dance (ballet and contemporary), music (instrumental and voice), theater and visual arts.

“We’re thrilled to have a home, to be in the heart of Santa Fe, and to know that our School will be open in a matter of months. It’s very exciting”, states NMSA Board Chair Catherine Oppenheimer.

St. Francis Cathedral School is the former location of Santo Niño Regional Catholic School prior to their moving to the College Avenue location. The 36,360 square foot school is located at 275 East Alameda, at the corner of East Alameda and Paseo de Peralta and was designed by celebrated architect John Gaw Meem in 1947. The two-story facility includes 14 classrooms, a library, cafeteria, stage, gymnasium and school offices.

“We are pleased that our historic St. Francis Cathedral School building will continue to serve the tradition of education in Santa Fe as the new home of the New Mexico School for the Arts.” says Jim Cutropia, representative for the Cathedral Church of St. Francis of Assisi.

The Stage

Head of School Jim Ledyard states: “Our students will be inspired by the architecture and works of art that grace the hallways at Cathedral School. We look forward to opening the school up to the public for semester-end performances and arts shows by the students of New Mexico School for the Arts. We are now working with state officials to obtain E-Occupancy.”

The following individuals are available for interviews:

Catherine Oppenheimer, Chair, NMSA Governing Board: 505-603-2900
Jim Ledyard, NMSA Head of School: 505-310-4195
Jim Cutropia, St. Francis Cathedral: 505-982-5619

Images: 505-310-4194 – or via email at admin@nmschoolforthearts.org.

New Mexico School for the Arts is a public, statewide, residential charter high school dedicated to artistic and academic excellence. NMSA offers pre-professional instruction in the performing and visual arts in combination with rigorous academics leading to a New Mexico diploma. NMSA prepares a diverse community of students to successfully continue their arts education at institutions of higher learning while preparing them to lead productive and creative lives that enrich their communities. New Mexico School for the Arts is supported, in part, by the New Mexico Community Foundation, Thaw Charitable Trust, Thornburg Charitable Foundation and an anonymous donor.