The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), the birthplace of contemporary Native American art, has been the educational home for esteemed, innovative artists, writers, filmmakers, performers, and leaders since 1962. At the start of its humble beginnings on the Santa Fe Indian School campus, IAIA began collecting and exhibiting student artworks, a collection that soon became the world’s premier collection of contemporary Indigenous art—the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA).
The mission of the Institute of American Indian Arts is “to empower creativity and leadership in Indigenous arts and cultures through higher education, lifelong learning, and community engagement.” This mission is more than a statement. It is the driving force behind all that they do and the guiding principle for their dedicated faculty and staff.
IAIA's vision is “to be the premier educational institution elevating Indigenous arts and cultures across the globe.” IAIA’s curricula, facilities, faculty, and staff are dedicated to preparing students for success and leadership. Their Indigenous-centered curricula provide students with educational experiences that fulfill their intellectual, social, physical, and spiritual needs. Through innovative pedagogy, critical inquiry, and intercultural exchange, their students receive a high-quality education and become part of a diverse, intergenerational community.
IAIA exemplifies creative excellence and what can be accomplished through an Indigenous approach to academics, community involvement, and museum practices. By promoting and expanding access to contemporary Indigenous arts through educational programming, research, and exhibitions, they are empowering Native creators and introducing non-Native audiences to Indigenous peoples’ vitality, resilience, and contemporaneity.
Beyond our arts-focused curricula, IAIA is a 1994 Land-Grant institution. Our Land-Grant Program provides training and outreach rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) that promote tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
Today, IAIA continues to grow on its stunning 140-acre campus, offering more and more certificate, undergraduate degree, and graduate degree programs, and MoCNA continues to expand its renowned collection of over 9,000 artworks, curating numerous progressive and innovative exhibitions, both traveling and at MoCNA’s location in downtown Santa Fe.
