The Santa Fe New Mexican

Best-of-Show Awards Kick off Massive Plaza Art Event

Santa Fe’s biggest tourism weekend of the year gets under way as American Indian artists begin setting up for the 87th annual Santa Fe Indian Market.

Tribal members from near and far, along with collectors of Indian-made arts and crafts, are among the thousands of visitors who have begun to fill hotels, restaurants and parking areas. 

Major events revolve around the best-of-show awards at El Museo Cultural, 1615 Paseo de Peralta. But these are limited to members of the Southwestern Association of American Indian Arts, which sponsors the annual market.

The actual market, open to everyone, is from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on and around the Plaza.

Parking will be tight during the market. Organizers are advising market-goers to park away from downtown and walk. Early birds may be able to find free parking on city streets or in state lots, such as the one across from the Roundhouse.

You can park for free at Fort Marcy Ballpark, Santa Fe Place or DeVargas Center malls and catch a shuttle to downtown.

For $9 a day, you can park in the city’s Water Street lot, the Sandoval Street Municipal Garage, the Archdiocese lot, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi lot and the new 400-space Santa Fe Railyard Garage. A free shuttle will be operating between downtown and the railyard.

A number of groups will be offering paid parking in various lots around the city, including at The New Mexican, 202 E. Marcy St.

City buses also will operate on a usual schedule, but the buses are banned from their usual terminus on Sheridan Avenue and will instead use West Alameda Street, between Guadalupe and Sandoval streets.

SANTA FE INDIAN MARKET SCHEDULE

Friday

4:30-5:30 p.m. Best of Show announcement, El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, 1615 Paseo de Peralta. Admission is $200 for those with SWAIA memberships of $250 and above. Only 100 tickets are sold to this event. Call SWAIA at 983-5220 to purchase tickets in advance.

5:30-7:30 p.m. Sneak preview of award-winning artwork and silent auction, El Museo Cultural. SWAIA members only; memberships available at the door. Sneak preview allows members ($250 level and above) the first opportunity to see award-winning art from Best of Show to Honorable Mention. There is also a silent auction, and Mateo Romero, the 2008 poster artist, will sign posters for members at or above the $500 level.

7:30-9:30 p.m. General preview of award-winning artwork and silent auction, El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe. SWAIA members only; memberships are available at the door.

Saturday

7 a.m.-5 p.m. The 87th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market, on and around Santa Fe Plaza, free. The world’s most prestigious American Indian arts show opens with some 1,100 artists (including youth), food, demonstrations, entertainment and more.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Native Cinema Showcase, times vary during the day. A joint project by SWAIA and the National Museum of the American Indian, the Native Cinema Showcase will screen work by Native filmmakers. One of the venues is outdoors at Cathedral Park.

Noon. Honoring ceremony. SWAIA honors its Lifetime Achievement, Povika and Fellowship awardees on the Plaza Community Stage.

5 p.m. Santa Fe Indian Market Auction Gala, La Fonda, 100 E. San Francisco St., $135 per person or $1,250 per table. The gala is sold out, but call SWAIA at 983-5220 to see if any tickets have become available.

6 p.m. Annual Native American Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, with Archbishop Michael Sheehan presiding.

Sunday

7 a.m.-5 p.m. The 87th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market, on and around the Santa Fe Plaza, free. The world’s most prestigious American Indian arts show has some 1,100 artists (including youth) food, demonstrations, entertainment and more.

9 a.m.-noon Native American Clothing Contest, Santa Fe Plaza Community Stage. See clothing from numerous Indian nations as participants compete in both traditional and contemporary categories. It’s the most photographed event of market weekend so get there early for a good seat. Free.

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Native Cinema Showcase, a joint project by SWAIA and the National Museum of the American Indian. One of the venues is outdoors at Cathedral Park.