Rio Rancho Creative Crossroads will host Art NM! from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 8 at the Star Heights Recreation Center.

“Individuals can make art; engage in the visual arts, music, and theater; and learn about the diverse creative resources that are available in each community,” RRCC said.

The founders of RRCC, Neal Shotwell and Aaron Howe, created an arts nonprofit in Rio Rancho 10 years ago to bring music, theater and visual arts to Rio Rancho.

According to the website, it started as a no-audition, cooperative youth chorus in 2013 for young people ages 12-18. By 2015, an additional a capella chorus, Encore, was formed to offer older kids the chance to try more advanced music.

“The chorus survived through the pandemic and is so popular in our area that RRCC added a children’s chorus in August 2022. Now in just their second season, the Children’s Chorus of Rio Rancho has over 35 singers,” RRCC said.

As of Feb. 4, The Youth Chorus and Children’s Chorus are in rehearsal for the spring concert in May. All concerts include various music styles, genres and a variety of local live musicians adding their talents to the program.

Art NM! will celebrate local artists, art organizations and businesses, according to RRCC.

Funding for ART NM! comes, in part, from a grant through New Mexico Arts, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

RRCC is also in partnership with local STEM powerhouse R4 Creative to establish a permanent campus for all manner of the STEAM programming in the city of Rio Rancho. The STEAM Center for Excellence will be a centrally located community space for creating open access to science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education, experiences and training where trained professionals in all disciplines can share their knowledge with community members and each other.

For more information, visit rr-cc.org or email [email protected].