About Us
We support the Arts because Art is Vital. Art is Life.
Founded in 2019, Vital Spaces began as an organization committed to finding and providing low-cost studio spaces to artists of Santa Fe, with a guiding commitment to support BIPOC and underserved creatives. Seeing the disparities and gaps in our creative community in Santa Fe prompted us to reflect on how Vital Spaces might expand and improve our service to our community and what our role might be in transforming our home into an incubator of creative expression for all of us, with a heightened focus on those at the margins whose voices have historically been left out. Today, Vital Spaces is more than just an arts nonprofit, it’s about connections and creativity. We are passionate community organizers with a mission to improve the lives of everyone in our city through the arts by offering a wide range of creative opportunities for artists and community members to engage with one another, collaborate, and celebrate the cultural vibrancy and diversity of Santa Fe.
“What it means to have/hold/offer SPACE”
While we still pursue our original mission to seek and provide affordable studio spaces, our concept of what it means to offer space has grown exponentially. Creatives need more than just a space to work, they need a space to be seen, heard, encouraged, and supported. We accomplish this through providing physical spaces; offering our gallery for exhibitions, workshops, and photography; our theater space features both a stage and screen for performances, concerts, and film screenings; and our offices in the Center for Progress and Justice deliver spaces to meet, mingle, and connect. We also carry this mission through our programming: providing free art supplies through our monthly Art Closet, creating mentorship opportunities for entrepreneurs, funding after-school programs for creative youths, and hosting art markets in desirable areas of the city at no cost to the vendors. Additionally, we offer space to celebrate, express joy, and experience unity through our free events such as the annual Juneteenth celebration on the plaza and our “Wonderful Fantastic” Hip Hop Festival in the Railyard. Meanwhile, we continue to look for new spaces to expand this mission so that we can continue to foster growth, inspiration, and creativity in our beautiful city.
In a city of cultural vibrancy, broad forms of artistic expression and thought, and rich and deep art history, Vital Spaces is laying down roots to foster a collaborative creative community that supports people, ideas, and art forms that are underrepresented in Santa Fe's commercial art scene. We are agents of inclusivity and a resource for a collective of creatives whose time it is to shine!
Vital Spaces Team
Raashan Ahmad
Executive Director
Raashan Ahmad is a father, musician, poet, community worker, and DJ. He has released six critically -acclaimed albums which have taken him to over thirty-five countries around the world. This, in turn, has led him down a path of international collaboration across artistic mediums, borders, and cultures. Raashan loves the intersection of the arts & community and is passionate about equity and access to the arts, he is an Arts Commissioner for the city of Santa Fe, a founding member of Earthseed Black Arts Alliance, a commissioner for the Santa Fe Film and Digital Media Commission, sits on the advisory board for the National Parks Arts Foundation and is a director & producer of video and storytelling projects. Raashan lives by the Emma Goldman quote “If I can’t dance I don’t want to be in your revolution,” so is also passionate about throwing the best dance parties. He brings his passion for building connections across barriers that can divide communities to his work at Vital Spaces.
Erin Haldane
Organizational Support
Erin Haldane an Alaskan native, Tsimshian, artist, illustrator and printmaker. Born in Anchorage, Alaska, but raised in Albuquerque, she considers New Mexico to be her forever home. Erin received her BFA from Santa Fe University of Art and Design in 2014 and has maintained a rigorous studio practice ever since, with her work being shown both locally and internationally. Beginning as a Vital Spaces studio artist, Erin began working with the nonprofit in 2022 and continues to support Vital Spaces' mission as the Art Closet Donations Coordinator as well as offering organizational support for both administrative needs and program management.
Xavier Rodriguez
Special Events Manager
Artist, Musician, and Shoegaze* Enthusiast (*It’s a type of music genre that really jump-started his passion for music, guitar, and the local DIY scene)
Corey Mansfield
Special Events Manager
Artist and owner of Mad Thrifty (“a truly thrifty thrift store in Madrid, N.M.”), experienced project manager.
Nicole Morris
Project-Based Grant Writer
Nicole Morris has supported Vital space’s growth and development through her role as our Grant Writer since 2021 - raising over $100,000 in funding for the organization. Nicole is a writer and provides education and coalition building that increases community participation and leadership in public health policy and clinical care provision.
Chadwick Shao
Creative Director
Chadwick Shao brings vast experience in branding, digital products, and design strategy to his role as Creative Director. He’s led corporate teams and created globally recognized websites with prestigious clients: Nike, R/GA, Samsung, MasterCard, and more. Chadwick is passionate about integrating meaningful design into the DNA of his clients’ organizations, and uniquely gifted at collaborating with both change agents and global blue-chip companies, transforming their visions into reality.
Vital Spaces Board of Directors
A. James Heynen
Board Chair
Mr. Heynen has been a leading consultant in media, education, philanthropy, and public service for 5 decades. Jim has served 1,200+ organizations from healthcare to manufacturing to universities to governments. He’s directed hundreds of enterprise formations, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, conflict resolutions and succession plans. Jim’s writings appear in twenty-nine university texts and reference works including Oxford University’s Words of a Century: The Top 100 American Speeches, 1900-1999.
Joan Brooks Baker
Vice Chair
Joan Baker is a writer, photographer, long-time supporter, and steward of some of Santa Fe’s most ambitious community-driven initiatives. Joan has been involved with the Santa Fe community through her work with The Farmers’ Market, New Mexico Women.org, KSFR Radio, The Girls School, and Cornerstones. Joan’s understanding and commitment to realizing large-scale community-centered work in Santa Fe are critical to gathering local support.
Elena Higgins
Secretary
Elena Higgins, Samoan/Maori heritage, was born in New Zealand and later moved to Australia before settling in Santa Fe, NM. Known for her captivating stage presence and vibrant personality, Elena is a visionary leader, co-founding and directing Indigenous Ways, dedicated to supporting arts, music, and community connection.
Christopher Webster
Treasurer
Christopher Webster is an entrepreneur, gallerist, publisher, and producer. He is a principal of Webster Enterprises and Director of Webster Collection. Christopher has been on the board of Vital Spaces since its inception, supporting its growth and transition over the last four years.
Alejandra Avila
Alejandra Avila, born and raised in Santa Fe, NM, is a multi-disciplined dancer, ranging from Classical Ballet, Ballet en pointe, Modern and Contemporary to the roots of Hip-Hop and Breakin’. Ale takes pride in being able to spin on the tips of her toes as well as on her head! Currently Ale holds the title of top B-girl in New Mexico and is a dance instructor at New Mexico School for the Arts.
Christopher Goett
Christopher Goett, President and CEO of the Santa Fe Community Foundation, has a background in community development and civic engagement. He previously served as Executive Director of the Wescom Foundation. Christopher holds degrees from Villanova and the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He and his wife Julie enjoy hiking, volunteering, and traveling.
Zizi Mueller
Zizi Mueller, a Juilliard-trained flutist and conductor, has held leadership roles in contemporary music. As President of Boosey & Hawkes (2008-2015), she represented top composers and launched initiatives for emerging talent. She’s produced records for major labels and served on numerous music boards, advocating for gender equality in the field.
Advisory Board
Kristin Graham
Kristin, a lifelong Santa Fe resident, studied at UNM and Parsons School of Design. She led fundraising at the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and now works in government relations for Los Alamos National Laboratory. Kristin serves on nonprofit boards and is passionate about supporting arts funding in her community.
Paisley Mason
Born in St. Petersburg, Florida to parents deeply committed to the arts, Paisley was volunteering with various non-profits from her earliest days. Paisley has worked for the United States Senate and Merrill Lynch. Her first paying job in the not-for-profit sector was as the grants manager at the Charles A. Dana Foundation and most recently, she was the head of Development at SITE Santa Fe. She is the Managing Director of Webster Enterprises, a real estate broker at Sotheby's International Realty, and is a principal of 54 ½ Projects, an arts consultancy located in Santa Fe, NM.
Mike Roque
Mike Roque is a seasoned nonprofit professional with over 30 years of experience as an Executive Director, Development Director, and Community Organizer. He is the President of Adobe Consulting, specializing in fundraising and strategic planning. Mike also serves on various nonprofit boards, including the Quivira Coalition and Vital Spaces.
Willa Shalit
Willa Shalit’s work focuses on arts for social change. She produced the global phenomenon, Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, raising +$120M to stop violence against women and girls. Partnering with survivors in post-conflict zones she created flagship brands for major US retailers (Starbucks/Anthropologie/Macy’s) and served as Special Advisor to the United Nations Ethical Fashion Initiative. She advises individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and governmental agencies. Her work as an artist, producer, author, and entrepreneur has been widely featured in international media, including an Emmy-Award-Winning PBS documentary.
Theater Building Construction Team
Thomas Properties
Building Owner
Mike Krupnik
Krupnick Studio Architecture, Architect
Javier Soto
Contractor