We Are This City

MISSION

The mission of We Are This City is to develop authentic local, national and international infrastructure for creatives. We strive for long-term, sustainable growth for the creative economy. WHAT WE DO

Albuquerque Voice Projects:
The first Albuquerque voice project was the Albuquerque Manifesto poem written by Hakim Bellamy, the poem was inspired by We Are This City to shine positive ligh

t on who we are and what we are doing here in Albuquerque. The poem was made into a video by We Are This City, Hakim Bellamy & Concept Flux and has had great reception from the community. We Are This City is currently working on 2 more unannounced Albuquerque voice projects, both articulating the positivity of who we are and what we are doing here in ABQ. We Are This City Community Art Projects:
In September 2015, We Are This City hosted two community-driven events titled “ABQ BALLOON BLAST,” in which more than 70 youth and families participated. These interactive art experiences invited community members to participate in fun, celebratory exchange while creating abstract art by throwing balloons filled with paint at a designated building and 10 MDF panels. These panels were then cut into 2×2’ sections and distributed, by invitation, amongst 70 artists to add their creative visions. The works were first exhibited in We Are This City’s pop-up show in Nob Hill, which 1,000+ people attended over two evenings in December 2015. They are currently being displayed in the Downtown gallery, THERAPY, where the art has been seen by an additional 2,500+ locals during private receptions. Next, We Are This City is exhibiting the ABQ Balloon Blast collection at the Albuquerque Museum in a one night pop-up event and has been chosen to do the stage design at the 2106 TEDxABQ which will incorporate the collection. Along with these 2 shows the city council has given We Are This City a budget to tour the collection to San Francisco. We Are This City has made 70 more canvases of similar style but instead of balloons filled with paint, 300+ kids put handprints in paint on the panels, which will also be distributed to 70 artists to make the Hands On art collection. Because of the extraordinary participation of the artists and our community, We Are This City has recognized the need to develop similar work in Albuquerque and in other cities, in a professional manner that compliments the quality of art, the community and the caliber of its creators. Further, the We Are This City art projects offer a powerful and compelling mechanism by which to increase the national and international recognition of creative capital — and thus to extend the visibility and viable markets for creative professionals, beyond the boundaries of their local communities. Vacant Buildings Initiative:
We Are This City is developing a large-scale art initiative as an urban revitalization campaign, focused on Downtown Albuquerque starting with the Rosenwald building at 4th and Central. We Are This City has engaged with students from Ace Leadership, Amy Biehl, and Freedom High to install a large-scale art installation on the exterior of the Rosenwald. The key goal is to grow an extensive, and active community around large-scale art initiatives for Albuquerque and our sister cities which will help revitalize urban areas. Creative Sessions & Elevated Soapbox (community development):
Creative Sessions is a monthly panel and workshop put on by We Are This City and THERAPY that explores how locals can work together to develop the creative economy here in ABQ. Once a month, panelists share perspectives and experiences on how they work, give insight into — fundamentally — how they negotiate their value, and engage in dialogue with attendees. Community building, networking and relationship cultivation, and economic/business development are core values of the program. Elevated Soapbox is a monthly event series put on by We Are This City and THERAPY that motivates locals to speak about their passions and ask meaningful questions that helps develop a foundation in the creative economy here in ABQ. Once a month speakers share their perspectives and experiences on how they work and give insight into how they the future of ABQ. Inspiration, engagement, celebration and community building are core values of the program. VALUE

We Are This City has developed a strong community, through our projects, initiatives and partnerships and with the successes that our exhibitions and related professional development programs have achieved. We Are This City continues to leverage our relationships, the momentum and the support to develop something bigger within our community so that not only Albuquerque but our sister communities can grow and be proud of what we are doing and who we are as creatives. We believe that the economic and social impact of We Are This City has profound value to governments, schools, organizations, businesses, artists and to all of the communities at-large. We Are This City is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.