The Media Arts & Technology department at New Mexico Highlands University is a one-of-a-kind program. Students not only learn about technology and design, but they get to implement their ideas, working from brainstorming and mind mapping to exhibition design and installation, interactive displays, and so much more.  

In this episode of Encounter Culture, NMHU professors Lauren Addario and Becca Sharp join Emily Withnall in the studio to talk about their program and their twenty-year partnership with the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, including their exhibition design at many of DCA’s Historic Sites. This partnership and internship program is one way that students from rural parts of the state can learn about various jobs in the arts and develop their skills in design, interpretation, cultural technology, and so much more.  

“We have taken advantage of conferences, of museum conferences internationally, even, where we connect with professionals and we bring them in,” says Addario. “We work hard to raise money, we write lots of grants, and we do this in service of Highlands and of the students because we … believe that their voices are valuable, and they have a lot of really good things to say—and they come up with great ideas.”  

The institutions benefit too. “A lot of what we do for these historic sites too is about connecting the culture and technology,” says Sharp. “We want to connect with what that institution, what that Pueblo, what that museum, wants to share, to their visitors.”  

Mentioned in this Episode:  
NMHU Media Arts & Technology 
Los Luceros Historic Site 
Jemez Historic Site 
Coronado Historic Site 
Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site 
New Mexico State Land Office 
Returning Home article by DezBaa’ about the NM State Land Office’s land exchange program 
Mineral Hill (Lauren’s band!) 
 
We’d love to hear from you! Let us know what you loved about the episode, share a personal story it made you think of, or ask us a question at elpalacio@dca.nm.gov. You can write a regular email or record a short voice memo and attach it for us to listen to.  
Visit newmexicoculture.org for info about our museums, historic sites, virtual tours, and more.  
Our favorite way to fully experience everything they have to offer is with the New Mexico CulturePass. Reserve yours online!   
If you love New Mexico, you’ll love El Palacio Magazine! Subscribe to El Palacio today. 
 
Encounter Culture, a production of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, is produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios.  
Hosted by Emily Withnall, editor at El Palacio Magazine 
Executive Producer: Daniel Zillmann 
Technical Director & Post-Production Audio: Edwin R. Ruiz 
Recording Engineer: Collin Ungerleider and Kabby at Kabby Sound Studios in Santa Fe 
Editor & Production Manager: Alex Riegler 
Associate Producer & Editor: Monica Braine (Assiniboine/Lakota) 
Theme Music: D’Santi Nava 
Instagram: @newmexicanculture and @elpalaciomagazine