Editor's Note: This is part 13 of a multi-part series. This article covers Mimbres Region Arts Council and Tour of the Gila presentations.

By Mary Alice Murphy

The three legislators—Sen. Howie Morales, Rep. Dianne Hamilton Representative-elect John Zimmerman—who represent parts of Grant County heard presentations from various groups during the annual Prospectors Legislative Communication Forum held Dec. 2.

Mimi Clark and Alexandra Tager represented the Mimbres Region Arts Council.

"I am the marketing coordinator for our activities, including the Blues Festival, Pickamania, Fine Arts Fridays and the concert series," Tager said. "We received the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts this year.

"We are looking to expand," she said. "For our Blues Festival last year, we had 15 percent growth. We have an international headliner for next year.

"We are here to address the decline in funding," Tager continued. "We have had no increase since 2000. We request the state increase the arts funding by double. There are 182 arts groups in the state, many more than there used to be. What we receive goes directly to staff and operations.

"In a University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research report statistics, it shows that arts and cultural businesses employ one in 18 employees in the state, and pay $3.7 billion in salaries and benefits," she said. "They pay more than construction and manufacturing."

"Thank you for the updates," Morales said. "For clarification, you're asking for $2 million for all programs? The Department of Cultural Affairs has requested a $125,000 increase."

Clark said that Lucky Varela had asked for double the funding.

"The cabinet secretary has requested a $125,000 increase," Morales stated. "I want to make sure small communities get a good share of the funding. With a 15 percent increase at the Blues Festival, and you're looking at an international headliner, we need a discussion on expanding."

"We are expanding the festival," Tager said. "Silver City will build bleachers to hold more attendees. We are adding lodging. Western has offered 50 dorm rooms and we will have 30 more rooms by then, and a campground is being considered at Bataan Memorial Park."

Morales said he was not sure $1 million could be possible.

"It sounds like we need an incremental approach," Zimmerman said.

"Arts organizations have been growing," Clark noted.

"Does this play into the university? Are you collaborating?" Morales asked.

"We have been partners on several shows and will continue to be," Clark said.

Next on the agenda was the Silver City Arts and Cultural District, but no one was there to present.

Mike McMillan presented for the Tour of the Gila:

"I am the stand-in for Jack Brennan and Michelle Geels, the co-organizers of the Tour of the Gila," McMillan said. "The Tour qualified for consideration for a second round of funding by the Tourism Department. They are there today discussing the issue.

"We applied for $40,000, and we are one of maybe 12, who made it to the second round," he continued. "They asked me to relay their thanks for your past support of the Tour of the Gila, especially for convincing the Department of Tourism to fund events, such as this one.

"We have no special capital outlay request," McMillan said. "We ask for your support."

The 2015 event, which will be the 29th annual Tour of the Gila, will run from April 29 through May 3.

"For the first time, we will host the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) women's pro race," McMillan said. "Vendors and manufacturers have realized that women's cycling is an untapped resource. There are only two UCI women's races in North America and the Tour of the Gila is one.

"We have hired a marketing group to go after major sponsors for the event," he said. "The proposal for the Department of Tourism has good facts and details about the race. We have been hosting the UCI men for two or three years. The Tour of the Gila is one of five UCI-sanctioned men's races in the U.S."

"All of us see the benefit of the race and year-round," Morales said. "I give credit to Secretary Jacobson for her willingness to support such events. We can advertise in San Diego and Chicago, but if we can't support it, it won't happen. If you send me the letter for the second round of consideration, I can send support to get to the final funding."

"We are trying to tie the race to the New Mexico True campaign," McMillan said.

"That has been done very well and is a successful campaign," Morales agreed. "I want to continue to encourage the state to help support events."

Zimmerman noted that it benefits the whole state.

"I remember when the race began," Hamilton said. "It seems to be building and bringing in well-known racers. I am hoping the state will continue to put funding into it. The Tour can be compared to areal cultural events."

McMillan said 95 percent of the racers come from out of the area.

Note: This article is taken directly from a transcript this writer is paid to deliver to the Prospectors each year for them to put the differently formatted information into the legislators' notebooks to be used during the legislative session and throughout the year.