Each May, the Historic Preservation Division mounts a statewide outreach campaign to highlight community preservation events and achievements. An image representing a preservation theme is selected by staff, published as a poster and distributed statewide and nationally to more than 3,000 people and organizations to announce Heritage Preservation Month. In 2010, HPD celebrates preservation and revitalization of "Downtown New Mexico," and is looking for poster images, events and award nominations to illustrate the theme.

• Events — Download the 2010 Calendar of Events Here

More than 30 New Mexico communities are staging 54 preservation events in May, many of them are annual tours, hikes to restricted archaeological sites and demonstrations of traditional practices handed down from generation to generation. Lectures, presentation of oral histories and film screenings also are examples of past Preservation Month events. In 2010, we are celebrating "Downtown New Mexico" with an eye to the 25th anniversary of MainStreet and revitalized downtowns in New Mexico.

The Calendar is published in April, one month before Preservation Month, to allow adequate planning and publicity for events. Photo attachments pertaining to your event are encouraged.

The awards ceremony features live music and is followed by a reception for all award recipients. In 2007, original members of the Fireballs, George Tomsco and Stan Lark, performed in honor of Kenneth and Shirley Broad for their work preserving the Norm Petty Recording Studios, in Clovis, where they and Buddy Holly recorded many of their hits.

Awards

Since 1970, the New Mexico Cultural Properties Review Committee has presented Heritage Preservation Awards to individuals, nonprofit organizations, businesses, pueblos, authors, researchers and to state and federal agencies that have made significant contributions to the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and interpretation of the state's unique archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage.

Nominations are in and winners will be announced in late April.

Please join us at the awards ceremony on Friday, May 21, at the Scottish Rite Center in Santa Fe.