Episode 23: Take Another Look

September 24, 2025

Take Another Look:

"Second in the US: ABQ and BernCo Lead the Way in Public Art Census"

Join us for the first episode in this three-part series where we explore a bit more about the background behind and the future of the Albuquerque, Bernalillo County Public Art Census data and report.

In this episode, host joni palmer is joined by Kent Swanson, Bernalillo County Public Art Coordinator, and Matt Carter, Interim Public Art Division Manager - and Public Art Collections Manager, to talk about the City-County partnership that made the Public Art Census both possible and successful.

Listen and watch Take Another Look on:

Meet the Guests

Kent Swanson is the Public Art Coordinator for the Bernalillo County Public Art Program. Kent holds a master's degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of New Mexico. He has worked locally and internationally in a variety of projects including municipal development, environmental conservation, and art education.

He worked at the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division, first as a Planner and then as the Manager of the City of Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center (OSVC) before taking a position with Bernalillo County.

Matt Carter is currently the Interim Division Manager - and the Public Art Collections Manager - for the City of Albuquerque Public Art Urban Enhancement Division. Matt has a B.A in Fine Arts with concentrations in studio glass and ceramics.

Matt joined the Public Art Urban Enhancement program in 2008, bringing with him 20+ years of experience in arts administration in the areas of studio glass/glass manufacturing industry and has held several positions in the museum field (education coordinator/studio coordinator and art handler/installer). He currently is the Collections Manager overseeing the care and maintenance of the Public Art Collection, manages public art projects as well as coordinates the Veterans Memorial Review Committee (VMRC).

Learn More About the People, Places, and Projects Discussed in Episode 23

Bernalillo County Public Art Program

Bernalillo County's public art program was established in 1992 with the adoption of the county's art in public places ordinance.

The program is funded by one and a half percent of the county's general obligation bonds passed during the general election every two years, with the exception of library bonds. Public art projects are associated with these bond initiatives.

The ordinance also created the Arts Board, a 10-member appointed advisory board that recommends artworks for public acquisition and display. Two member per district are appointed by their respective county commissioner.

State, County, and City Public Art

There are 3 public art programs that operate near and around Albuquerque!

Click the comparison chart below to see how New Mexico Arts, the Bernalillo County Public Art program, and City of Albuquerque Public Art program are similar and different.

Public Art Census

In Episode 3 and Episode 12, joni talked with Danicia Monét Malone, founder of Rokh and the Public Art Census consultant, about how the Public Art Census could help understand other forms of creative expression, cultural equity, and spatial justice as well as the data collection process.

The City of Albuquerque Public Art Urban Enhancement Division, in partnership with the Bernalillo County Public Art Program and Rokh are excited to announce that the 2024 Public Art Census report for Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico is live!

The Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, NM Public Art Census is the second comprehensive initiative of its kind ever conducted in the United States, after Marion County, IN.

Canvassers traveled over 20,000 linear miles across Bernalillo County, uncovering 11,364 artworks.

For this study, public art was defined as artwork in the public realm, regardless of whether it is situated on public or private property, whether it is publicly or privately funded, or whether it is in the City's or County's Public Art Collections.

Learn more about the Public Art Census, report, and findings.

Public Art Census Videos

City of Albuquerque Public Art Urban Enhancement Division | cabq.gov/publicart