SENATE MEMORIAL 20

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Phil A. Griego

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW AND REVISIT ITS PRACTICES REGARDING LICENSING OF OUT-OF-STATE FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS FOR PRODUCTION OF NEW MEXICO-STYLE FURNITURE.

     WHEREAS, the museum of New Mexico collections are world-renowned for their historic New Mexico furniture and furnishings; and

     WHEREAS, the Santa Fe style of furniture has come into vogue, cresting in the same way that jewelry and functional pottery have come to dominate certain segments of the American and international commercial markets; and

     WHEREAS, the cultural affairs department permits research in its collections, including those on archaeological studies, photographs, folk traditions and on conservation; and

     WHEREAS, the cultural affairs department has extended licenses to some producers of traditional furniture and furnishings; and

     WHEREAS, licensing out-of-state producers to reproduce New Mexico furniture and other furnishings seems unnecessary given that there are so many talented local craftspeople; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico craftspeople need and should have priority for state funds in producing a traditional state product;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the cultural affairs department be requested to review and revisit its practice of licensing out-of-state producers to produce New Mexico furniture and furnishings; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the cultural affairs department be requested to consider giving priority to New Mexico producers and other craftspeople who bid on contracts to create reproductions of traditional products; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of cultural affairs and to the governor.

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