City of Santa Fe Arts Commission Announces DIY Santa Fe, 3/1

Santa Fe, NM

Santa Fe Creative Tourism, a program of the City of Santa Fe Arts Commission announces DIY Santa Fe, coming in March 2015 to historic Santa Fe, New Mexico, a member of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.

Now in its fifth year, DIY Santa Fe (http://www.diysantafe.org) is a month-long celebration of the renowned arts tradition so integral to the unique style and character of "The Land of Enchantment." The DIY showcase of the community's creative workshops and events is an incomparable opportunity for visitors to spend a vacation learning from some of the nation's finest, most experienced artists and artisans, all while enjoying the bounty of Santa Fe's world-class restaurants, sites, and accommodations. Visitors are encouraged to kick off their spring by taking part in this one-of-a-kind, immersive cultural arts experience.

Travelers interested in self-discovery or developing their creative side will cherish individual intuitive painting sessions with creativity coach Julie Claire. This class is open to all, from amateurs to formally trained artists, and is specifically geared toward helping students "find freedom from the inner critic."

For those looking for casual, family friendly activities, there's always "Watercolor with Dawn Davis." Davis, an award-winning artist with signature status in both the New Mexico and Kansas Watercolor Societies, will tailor a workshop specifically to her students' abilities and interests. Likewise, tinsmith Sharon Candelario, who creates beautiful works using her own unique black-etching process, offers traditional tinsmithing classes from her studio, gallery, and family-owned café in the heart of historic Chimayo, home of the sacred shrine of El Santuario.

There are many more possibilities for discovery and creative adventure: image transfer, drawing, spinning wool, bead making, printmaking, hand-building and wheel-throwing pottery techniques, photography, and filmmaking are just a few of hundreds. DIY Santa Fe is designed for groups of friends, multi-generational families, couples, and the lone traveler, too. The workshops are programmed to be engaging and life-expanding, and scheduling is flexible enough to accommodate even the most rigorous vacationers. Visitors can book the hotel, inn, or bed-and-breakfast of their choice for as long as they wish. Accommodations ranging from private vacation rentals to the area's finest hotels are available, including award-winning Santa Fe Creative Tourism partners such as the Inn of the Governors, Casa Cuma Bed & Breakfast, the Lodge at Santa Fe, Hotel St. Francis, and Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe. See listings for complete details.

To book a DIY vacation in March is easy. Just visit the website, http://www.diysantafe.org , and choose from the complete catalog of workshops and exclusive DIY Santa Fe booking information.

Contact: For more information please contact Brent Hanifl, Santa Fe Creative Tourism Coordinator, at (608) 792-5746 or santafecreativetourism(at)gmail(dot)com (http://www.diysantafe.org)

DIY Santa Fe: A Creative Tourism Journey is a project of the Santa Fe Arts Commission and Santa Fe Creative Tourism, which offers over 250 creative experiences throughout the year. In 2005, UNESCO named Santa Fe to the Creative Cities Network, the first American city to be so honored.