Cultural Services Department

The Mission of the Cultural Services Department is to enhance the City’s quality of life by celebrating Albuquerque’s unique history and culture.

The Cultural Services Department provides services, entertainment

and collections that improve literacy, learning and economic vitality in diverse venues that enrich the community and increase tourism.

Inaugural Albuquerque Gospel Music Festival --- Sunday,

September 28, 2008 on Harry E. Kinney Civic Plaza.
Click here for more information....

Current Exhibition at the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum

Native Americans and Ballooning

The contributions of Native American members of the World War I US Balloon Corps and Native balloonists and crew members are featured in the exhibition.

Learn more....

 

Attractions, Facilities and Program Listings:

The Albuquerque Biological Park consists of the Rio Grande Zoo, the Albuquerque Aquarium, the Rio Grande Botanic Garden and Tingley Beach.

The Rio Grande Zoo (505-764-6200, 903 Tenth St., SW), is open 9 am-5 pm daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; 9 am-6 pm Saturdays and Sundays, June through August. The Zoo is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state and has been recognized as a world-class institution. Ever-expanding, the Zoo's newest exhibition, Animals of Africa, is now completed and open. A large bandshell attracts top-notch regional and regional performers for outdoor, evening Zoo Music concerts during the summer.

The Albuquerque Aquarium is one of four attractions that make up the Albuquerque Biological Park. The Aquarium features the diverse marine habitats of the Rio Grande and Gulf of Mexico, along with a walk-through moray eel display, sting rays, jellyfish, a coral reef tank and a 285,000-gallon shark tank. Daily activities include shark feeding and a touchpool. Located at 2601 Central Avenue, SW, near Old Town, the Aquarium's hours of operation are 9 am-5 pm. For more information, call 505-764-6200, and ask for the Aquarium. 

The Rio Grande Botanic Garden is one of four attractions that make up the Albuquerque Biological Park. Situated along the Rio Grande's cottonwood bosque, or forest, the Botanic Garden's state-of-the-art glass conservatory showcases a Desert Pavilion and Mediterranean Pavilion. The recently-opened four-acre Sasebo Japanese Garden, the working Heritage Farm, Old World fountains, a Children's Fantasy Garden and a seasonal Butterfly Pavilion are also featured. The Botanic Garden is located at 2601 Central Avenue, SW, near Old Town. The Botanic Garden is open from 9 am-5 pm. For more information, call 505-764-6200, and ask for the Botanic Garden.

Tingley Beach is one of four attractions that make up the Albuquerque Biological Park.  This reacreation area, built during the 1930’s, then renovated and reopened in 2005, features fishing ponds for adults and children, a model boating pond, paddle boats, nature trails, a gift shop, a restaurant, and a narrow-gauge railroad connecting Tingley Beach with the Rio Grande Botanic Garden, Albuquerque Aquarium and Rio Grande Zoo.  Tingley Beachis open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year and is free to the general public on a first come, first served basis.  For more information, call 505-764-6200, and ask for Tingley Beach.

The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History (505-243-7255) preserves and displays both historic and artistic items of Albuquerque and New Mexico culture. In addition to local and touring exhibitions, the Museum also protects local historic sites and provides both facilities and materials for interpretive education programs. Located in the Museum District in Old Town at Mountain and 19th Street NW, the Albuquerque Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 am-5 pm.

The Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library System (505-768-5140) provides Internet access, reading and research materials, Genealogy services, story times and other activities through sixteen branches and the Main Library downtown at Fifth and Copper NW. Check our Website for branch locations, online services and a complete schedule of each branch's hours and programs.

The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum (505-768-6020) is an educational institution of engaging exhibitions and informative programs on the history, art, culture, science and sport of ballooning and other lighter-than-air craft. Throughout the year the museum offers hands-on art and science workshops, as well as lectures, family engagement, musical performances and other entertainment.  Located in a prize-winning architectural showcase at Balloon Fiesta Park (9201 Balloon Museum Drive, NE), the museum is home to a large collection of gas and hot-air ballooning artifacts and exhibits that showcase the multi-faceted world of lighter-than-air craft.

The Special Events Section (505-768-3556) produces music festivals, cultural events, parades and more. Albuquerque Summerfest, the Q Jam Sustainability and Music Festival, the annual Twinkle Light Parade, Concert Band performances and the Freedom 4th Celebration are just some of its featured events . The Special Events Section also oversees the rental of the outdoor Harry E. Kinney Civic Plaza facility in downtown Albuquerque. Those wishing to have their own event, within the City of Albuquerque, should contact the Special Events Section to begin the "Special Event Permit Process" which is required for most events.

With Old Town • New Fun, you're invited to be part of Albuquerque's newest old tradition - Albuquerque's Old Town . Discover shopping, dining, dancing, and entertainment smothered in the romance, charm and culture of historic New Mexico.  Friday night Salsa music and dancing at the Gazebo, Flamenco dance performances, poetry, theatrical performers and strolling Mariachis are featured Wednesdays through Sundays from April through October.

The KiMo Theatre (505-768-3522) located downtown at 423 Central Ave. NW, has been Albuquerque's gem of Pueblo Deco architecture since it opened as a movie house in 1927. It was purchased by the City in 1977 and has undergone a series of restorations and renovations to bring back its Grandeur of the Picture Palace era . The theatre hosts a continuous array of local and national stage productions and other events. The KiMo lobby also houses a large collection of historic murals by Carl Von Hassler and a rotating display of works by local and regional artists . The KiMo Theatre can be rented for special occasions and activities.

The South Broadway Cultural Center (505-848-1320, 1025 Broadway SE) is a multi-use facility completed in 1995. This modern building houses a 315-seat theater, 3,000 sq. ft. of recreation and art gallery space, along with a full library branch. The theater presents both local and national stage productions. Ticket prices and starting times vary.

GOV-TV 16 (505-768-3958) is the government television facility for the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County . The channel, operated by the Cultural Services Department, provides live and replayed gavel-to-gavel coverage of City Council, County Commission and other municipal government meetings along with a variety of informational programs on local issues, events and activities. GOV-TV can be seen on Comcast cable in the Albuquerque area. Live streaming video and audio of the channel's programming is available on the Internet 24 hours a day.

The ¡explora! Science Center and Children's Museum of Albuquerque (505-224-8300) is a cooperative of the City and the Museum. ¡explora! provides hands-on, minds-on scientific discoveries for kids and adults at 1701 Mountain Road NW in the Cultural Corridor.

 

Q Card photo:

The Sandias, Albuquerque's Icon © 2007 G. F. Hohnstreiter www.gfhphotography.com