hand holding paper that says "equitable exchange"

What to Know Before You Go

We look forward to welcoming you to Santa Fe, NM for the Artist Communities Alliance 35th Anniversary Conference! Below are a few details you'll want to know before the conference begins.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

ARRIVING + DEPARTING FROM SANTA FE

Santa Fe is located in northern New Mexico, an hour's drive north of Albuquerque (which is the state's largest city and major air gateway). Downtown Santa Fe and its surrounding historic districts are compact and pedestrian-friendly.

The Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), is located about an hour's drive from the conference site, and is serviced by all major U.S. airlines. Most visitors to Santa Fe fly into Albuquerque and arrange transportation from there. 

To get to Santa Fe from Albuquerque you have the following options: 

  • Groome Transportation, a private shuttle service, provides transportation many times daily between the ABQ airport and downtown Santa Fe locations. Cost is approximately $50 each way + tip.
  • Uber / Lyft serve ABQ and Santa Fe.
  • The New Mexico Rail Runner Express is a commuter rail train that operates between Santa Fe and Albuquerque seven days a week. 

The Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF) is about 20 minutes from the conference site. This smaller airport is serviced by: American Airlines (daily flights from DFW, PHX and LAX) and United Airlines (daily from DEN).

 

REGISTRATION

You may pick up your conference materials in the Artist Communities Alliance registration area of the La Fonda Hotel - Mezzanine 2nd floor (100 E San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM) during the following times:

  • Monday 12/8: 10:30am - 1:30pm, 4:00pm - 7:00pm
  • Tuesday 12/9: 9:00am - 5:00pm
  • Wednesday 12/10: 8:30am - 5:00pm
  • Thursday 12/11: 8:30am - 10:00am
 

SPECIAL EVENTS

The following events are included in your registration. We hope to see you there!

  • OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION | Monday 12/8, 5 - 7pm
    La Fonda Hotel - La Terraza 3rd floor (100 E San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM)
    Kick off the 2025 Conference by gathering with colleagues old and new for small bites, libations, conversation, and celebration. With its cozy fireplace and Pueblo-style architecture, La Fonda’s La Terraza offers a warm and festive start to our time together.
    Free for attendees! Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served.
    Tip: Coming from the Eldorado Hotel? Walk to La Fonda with other attendees - meet in the Eldorado lobby by 4:45pm!
     
  • DANCE PARTY AND CELEBRATION | Wednesday 12/10, 7 - 9pm
    Casa España at Eldorado Hotel & Spa (enter at 109 N Guadalupe St at Chappelle St, Santa Fe, NM)
    Toast to our final night together with a dance party at Casa España, a distinctive lounge and dance club adjacent to Eldorado Hotel.  Dance to soul, funk, and disco with our esteemed local DJ or settle into one of the art-filled lounges for cozy conversation. It’s a joyful send-off you won’t want to miss. 
    Free for attendees! Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served.
    Tip: Coming from the La Fonda Hotel? Walk to Casa España with other attendees - meet in the La Fonda lobby by 6:45pm!
 

TUESDAY FREE NIGHT DURING THE CONFERENCE

Tuesday 12/9 is a free night after the sessions! If you’re looking for something to do, join with colleagues from 6pm - 7pm for informal gatherings at either of the hotel lounges. Our hosts will have recommendations for exploring Santa Fe through its amazing restaurant options. Start out at either spot to meet new friends and make a dinner plan together.

  • La Fiesta Lounge at La Fonda on the Plaza offers an authentic Santa Fe dining experience, and comes alive each evening with talented local musicians.
  • CAVA Santa Fe at Eldorado Hotel features craft cocktails, live entertainment and serves as Santa Fe’s community living room. 
 

TOURS

Offsite tour experiences will take place Monday, December 8th. Advanced registration is required. If you have not registered - or would like to learn more about this year's offerings, please visit our Tours page.

If you are on the waitlist for a tour, please go to the registration area at La Fonda Hotel - Mezzanine 2nd floor (100 E San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM) at the specified time. Spots will be granted in the order of the waitlist.

 

MEETING + HOTEL LOCATIONS

Conference sessions will take place between two hotels: La Fonda on the Plaza - 100 East San Francisco Street or Eldorado Hotel - 309 W San Francisco Street, unless otherwise noted.  The hotels are approximately a 7-minute walk apart (0.3 miles). There is 30 minutes between sessions to give you time to get to your next session.

For accessibility and accommodation questions and requests, please contact programs@artistcommunities.org by November 15th.

For distances greater than 0.7 miles, transportation will be provided to offsite tours and workshops. Your printed program lists all venue addresses and volunteer guides will accompany you to tours and parties.

 

FOOD SERVICE

Coffee / tea and breakfast will be available at the La Fonda Hotel - Mezzanine 2nd floor on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. 

Lunch will be provided Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at the La Fonda Hotel - Mezzanine 2nd floor. There are a limited number of vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free and other special meals available, based on the stated dietary needs on your registration form. The caterers at the hotel and event locations will do their best to accommodate dietary restrictions - though requests beyond vegan and gluten-free may not be available. Food will be labeled.

At evening receptions, light hors d'oeuvres will be provided. To continue the fun in your evening, excellent local dining options are listed here!

 

ATTIRE

Attendees generally wear business casual attire. You should dress to be comfortable for participating in sessions, and for being out and about between sessions. The average high temperature for Santa Fe in December is about 40 degrees F, and a dusting of snow or ice is likely. See our packing list!

 

OTHER ITEMS YOU MAY WANT TO BRING

  • Business cards
  • Comfortable, sturdy shoes/boots for walking between hotels
  • Umbrella
  • Water bottle
    • Water will be provided, but because of Santa Fe’s high altitude we strongly recommend carrying water with you to stay hydrated.
  • Warm clothing layers and a parka
  • Bathing suit if you’d like to take advantage of spa services
  • Antacid / pain relief if you are prone to altitude sickness (stay hydrated to help avoid)
 

SITES TO SEE

The following locations have offered complimentary admission to conference attendees between December 8 - 11, 2025. Be sure to show your conference name badge at each admissions desk and mention your conference participation. Thank them for their generosity while you're there!

The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum | 217 Johnson St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) | 108 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM 87501 
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture | 706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87504
Museum of International Folk Art | 706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87504
New Mexico History Museum | Palace of the Governors | 113 Lincoln Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501
New Mexico Museum of Art | Vladem Contemporary | 107 W. Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501
SITE SANTA FE | 1606 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501

All New Mexico State museums and historic sites are included for free admission. View the full list here.
 

ACCESSIBILITY

We welcome everyone to the Artist Communities Alliance Conference and are committed to making our programs and events accessible. For accessibility and accommodation questions and requests, please contact programs@artistcommunities.org by November 15th.

  • All plenary presentations will be captioned. ASL interpretation and/or captioning for breakout sessions will be provided upon request with advance notice by the deadline.
  • The full agenda will be provided as readable PDF for e-readers, and available in alternative formats upon request.
  • The venues for conference sessions, tours, and evening events are wheelchair-accessible.
    • The conference will take place at La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe, a historic landmark hotel built in the early 1900s. While the venue offers many modern amenities, please note that some areas of the property have limited accessibility due to the building’s historic architecture. Accessible entrances, elevators, and restrooms are available, but certain meeting rooms and common spaces may require alternate routes or staff assistance to access. The hotel staff and conference organizers are committed to supporting all attendees and will gladly help with navigation or accommodation requests.
  • Quiet spaces and lactation rooms will be available daily.
  • All presenters will use microphones.
  • All-gender restrooms are provided at the La Fonda Hotel.

Please inform us of accessibility needs (including limited mobility) to allow us to provide seamless access and a positive conference experience. We will gladly make additional accommodations with advance notice by November 15, 2025. Please email programs@artistcommunities.org.

 

COVID-19 + FLU SEASON

We strongly encourage all attendees to test for COVID within 24 hours prior to arrival. COVID self-tests will also be available at registration. If you develop symptoms during the conference, please isolate and take a COVID test. ACA staff are available to deliver a test to you if necessary.

If you test positive for COVID prior to travel or upon your arrival, or if you know you have been exposed to COVID, prioritize your health and the health of other attendees by not attending the conference and notifying us as soon as possible. We will provide a full registration refund to any registrant who cannot attend due to exposure or a positive test result. 

SAFETY, PRIVACY, DOCUMENTATION + CONSENT

For the safety, security, and comfort of our attendees, only registered participants will be admitted to conference events. All attendees are required to wear their conference nametags to all events, including plenaries, breakout sessions, meals, tours, and receptions. When photographing fellow attendees, kindly ask permission. Attendees who do not wish to be photographed can pick up a red triangle sticker at registration to identify themselves as such by adding to their nametag. 

ACA uses only photography to capture conference proceedings. ACA may disseminate selected images for documentation, education and promotion purposes. Attendees wearing a red sticker on their nametags will not be included in any distribution of images. No audio or video recording is permitted to preserve the intimacy, integrity, and safety of these spaces.

 

CONFERENCE CODE OF CONDUCT

ACA is committed to creating a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment during its convenings for everyone—regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, color, age, religion, national origin, economic status, or political affiliation. To uphold these values together, we ask all participants to adhere to the following standards of conduct throughout the conference. 

  • Harassment of any kind—including sexual harassment—will not be tolerated. If you experience or witness harassment, please reach out to ACA board or staff (indicated by blue nametags).
  • We value consent culture and strive to create spaces where everyone feels safe. Personal and emotional boundaries must be respected in all interactions—casual or professional. This includes photography and recording of any kind. Please inquire before photographing fellow attendees. Participants who prefer not to be photographed can indicate this by picking up a red triangle sticker at registration and placing it on their name tag.
  • Be a good bystander. If you see someone in a harmful situation or interaction, check in and offer help.
  • Show care, kindness, and respect when listening and engaging in dialogue.

ACA reserves the right to remove anyone from the conference who engages in conduct deemed to be harassment or otherwise harmful toward others.

COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS

As an intentional learning community, we offer these considerations for how we speak, listen, and engage with each other: 

  • Operate from a place of care for yourself and others;
  • Express respect for all by valuing our shared time, listening actively, and being present;
  • Keep the specific question or topic in mind;
  • Recognize the value of the process as well as the outcome;
  • Avoid “alphabet soup” and coded language by unpacking acronyms or buzzwords;
  • Prioritize curiosity over certainty;
  • Honor the confidentiality of the space: Carry the lessons forward, but leave identifying details in the room; and
  • Practice gratitude and joy. 

Should you need any last-minute assistance, please email programs@artistcommunities.org. Artist Communities Alliance staff will be on-site and not available by phone.

We look forward to welcoming you to Santa Fe!

REGISTER NOW