We are excited to announce our Museum admission is now Free to all visitors!
The Spanish Colonial Art Society’s Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum (NMHA) houses an unrivaled collection, library, and archive of regional artworks - predominantly from New Mexico - including historic pieces from around the world for comparative purposes. Nearly half of the Museum’s collection is comprised of work by Spanish Market artists from the 1920s to the present. A percentage of pieces are from the period 1598-1821 with the remainder primarily from 19th-century New Mexico along with Spain and other areas to place them within a global context. It is located in the only John Gaw Meem-designed residential building open to the public in Santa Fe.
As a private museum we have the opportunity to question, challenge, and reimagine the museum model and the relevance of how it functions in the world today. Please join us. We look forward to seeing you!
Exhibits|2025
Lowrider Bike Club II
Opening July, 2025
Youth Arts Exhibit
Opening March 29, 2025
Grow and Flourish|24
October 19, 2024 -March 22, 2025
100 Years of Collecting | 100 Years of Connecting
February 8th - December 13th, 2025
Upcoming Events
Join the Spanish Colonial Arts Society and the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum in celebrating its 100-year anniversary with special centennial festivities that invite the public to learn more about the Society’s history, celebrate its milestones, and share in its future. Events include exhibitions, scholarly lectures, parties, garden tours, pop-up events, conversations with artists, conservators, curators, and more.
Unless otherwise specified, all events are held at the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum, located at 750 Camino Lejo on Museum Hill in Santa Fe. Admission is free unless noted.
Coming Up: March
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26: “THE WOMEN OF SCAS” LECTURE AND PANEL DISCUSSION
Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, 4803 Rio Grande Blvd. NE, Albuquerque. For ticket information visit https://lospoblanos.com/events/dr-armin-rembe-lecture-series-at-la-quinta.
To celebrate Women's History Month, the Society takes the stage at the Los Poblanos Dr. Armin Rembe Lecture Series for a lively panel discussion on the history of the extraordinary women of the Spanish Colonial Arts Society. From SCAS co-founder Mary Austin to SCAS curator E. Boyd to the women who lead the organization today, the talk explores the central role that women have played in shaping and securing the legacy of the Society over the past 100 years. Featured speakers include SCAS Curator Emerita Donna Pierce, SCAS Curator Emerita Robin Farwell Gavin, SCAS E. Boyd Curator Jana Gottshalk, and former SCAS trustee and author Carmella Padilla.
SATURDAY, MARCH 29: THIRD ANNUAL YOUTH ARTIST EXHIBITION
Public Opening and Reception
10 a.m. – noon
Celebrate the achievements of New Mexican youth curators, ages 7 to 17, who created this exhibition inspired by the heritage arts of Hispano New Mexico. The exhibition puts students in conversation with the Spanish Colonial Arts Society collection, which they studied during workshops led by Traditional Spanish Market artists and the curator of the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum. A collaboration with the Atrisco Heritage Foundation.
Coming Up: April
POSTPONED SUNDAY, APRIL 6: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SCAS LIBRARY + ARCHIVE
Panel Discussion, Reception, and Book Club Launch. RSVP required. To reserve your spot, email rsvp@spanishcolonial.org. Suggested donation $10.00. 3 – 5 p.m.
Kick off National Library Week 2025 with at SCAS with supporters, volunteers, and founders of the Spanish Colonial Arts Society Library, as well New Mexico State librarians, as they share what makes this nearly 4,000-volume library unique in Santa Fe and throughout New Mexico. Hear about the Society’s plans for providing full public accessibility to the library and help select the first book for the newly launched Spanish Colonial Arts Society/Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum Book Club! RESCHEDULED FOR FALL.
APRIL 10 and 12: HIGHLIGHTS OF JOHN GAW MEEM’S REGIONAL DESIGN
Individual Ticketed Events in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Details: https://nmheritagearts.org/meem-event
THURSDAY, APRIL 10. 10:30AM – 2:00PM: TOURS, TALKS, LUNCH AT LOS POBLANOS IN ALBUQUERQUE. LIMITED TO 25 GUESTS.
SATURDAY, APRIL 12. 10:00AM AND 3:00PM: TOURS, TALKS, MORNING AND AFTERNOON RECEPTIONS AT LABORATORY OF ANTHROPOLGY AND ITS DIRECTOR’S RESIDENCE ON MUSEUM HILL IN SANTA FE. LIMITED TO 50 GUESTS.
A two-day event of talks, tours, lunches, and receptions beginning at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, and concluding at the Laboratory of Anthropology Director’s Residence (home to the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum—NMHA), Santa Fe. Includes rare behind the scenes guided tour of the Laboratory of Anthropology, companion building to Laboratory of Anthropology Director’s Residence, in partnership with the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC). Featured speakers include:
Dr. Audra Bellmore, John Gaw Meem Curator and architectural historian at the University of New Mexico, and author Old Santa Fe Today, 5th ed. and the upcoming A Guide to the Historic Gardens and Everyday Landscapes of the Taos Art Colony.
Judith Phillips, landscape designer with a focus on native and xeric plants, and author of Growing the Southwest Garden and The Gardens of Los Poblanos.
Matthew Rembe, Executive Director of Los Poblanos, a nationally recognized destination farm promoting New Mexico’s unique agricultural history for locals and visitors.
Chris Wilson, Regents Professor of Landscape Architecture, and author of Facing Southwest: The Life & Houses of John Gaw Meem.
Special thanks to MIAC’s Curator of Ethnology Tony Chavarria and Head of Curatorial Affairs Elisa Phelps who will be leading guided tours of the Laboratory of Anthropology.
Visit Us
MUSEUM HOURS:
Wednesday 12pm - 4pm
Thursday 12pm - 4pm
Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Hours are subject to change.
The museum follows the Santa Fe Public School system regarding weather delays and closures.
If there is a school delay or closure, the museum will be closed for everyone’s safety. Here is a link to find out about delays/closures.
Spanish Colonial Arts Society | Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum
750 Camino Lejo
Santa Fe, NM 87505
ADMIN HOURS:
Tuesday - Friday: 10am - 4pm
Our Collections
Our Permanent Collection is composed of regional pieces—predominantly New Mexico—and includes historic pieces from around the world for comparative purposes. Nearly half of our collection is composed of the work of Spanish Market artists from the 1920s to present. A percentage of pieces are from the period 1598-1821 with the remainder primarily 19th-century New Mexico along with Spain and other areas in order to place it in the global context.
Support
Your support has made an enormous impact on our organization. We have many ways for you to support the Spanish Colonial Arts Society.
Visit
The 1930 Pueblo-Spanish Revival Director’s Residence is the only residential building in Santa Fe open to the public designed by John Gaw Meem, one of Santa Fe’s most prominent architects.
Guided building focused tours are offered on Friday afternoons!