For the second time, the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Arts & Culture was invited to serve as a Lead Cultural Partner for the Artists At Work (AAW) initiative of THE OFFICE performing arts + film and the FreshGrass Foundation. Four creatives have been selected to collaborate on social impact initiatives during an 18-month, paid artist residency in Albuquerque.
AAW is a workforce resilience program designed to support healthy communities through artistic civic engagement. Inspired by the WPA, AAW was founded by THE OFFICE performing arts + film and the FreshGrass Foundation and piloted in Western Massachusetts to acclaim in 2020. Following that success, AAW was awarded $3M by the Mellon Foundation to expand its program in other parts of the country, including the Borderlands Region in fall 2022 when Albuquerque was chosen as a cultural hub for the first time.
“We are incredibly proud that Albuquerque has been selected once again. This recognition affirms the power and depth of our city’s creative community,” said Arts & Culture Director Dr. Shelle Sanchez. “Engaging artists whose work confronts social issues and uplifts all voices is essential to inspire meaningful change in our communities.”
The four creatives selected are:
For over 30 years, Lynn Johnson has created transformative theater that amplifies the voices of historically marginalized communities. From early work directing youth-led performances to co-founding a long-running summer camps, her work centers empathy, connection, and social change. Today, Lynn serves as co-founder and executive director of High Desert Playback, a multiracial, queer- and trans-centered ensemble that uses playback and devised theater to engage communities, spark dialogue, and mobilize around pressing social issues.
Jade Cruz is a visual artist, muralist, and teaching artist whose work spans painting, digital illustration, and large-scale murals. Their art emerges in response to injustice, grief, and love, rooted in a commitment to storytelling, education, and collective healing. Drawing from their cultural and artistic lineage, Jade’s work uplifts the beauty, strength, and complexity of their communities and the natural world. Jade values collaboration and works closely with grassroots projects, schools, museums, and cultural organizations—especially in partnership with youth and communities of color—to build connection and inspire change through creative expression.
Naomi Natale is a socially engaged artist whose work explores connection, collective responsibility, and the question: “What is the Responsibility of Belonging?” With over 18 years of experience, she creates large-scale, participatory projects that address social and environmental justice. She is the founding artist of One Million Bones, a global effort involving over 150,000 participants to raise awareness about mass atrocities, and The Cradle Project, highlighting the plight of orphaned and vulnerable children. Her current work, Of Grief & Dreams, invites communal healing through an interactive sculptural sanctuary. Natale is a TED Senior Fellow and recipient of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation’s Artist as Activist Fellowship.
A dynamic beatboxer and vocal artist, Ashley Moyer transforms performance into a channel for deep emotional and energetic exchange. Rooted in the improvisational tradition of the cypher, Ashley’s work taps into breath, intuition, and audience connection to create powerful, trance-like soundscapes. As a woman in a male-dominated field, she brings pride, boldness, and a distinctly feminine energy to the art of beatboxing—redefining what’s possible through voice alone. Ashley’s performances awaken forgotten feelings and open space for others, especially women, to claim their creative power.
“Albuquerque continues to lead with creativity, compassion, and a commitment to justice and social issues,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Our artists are not only shaping culture — they’re helping us build a more connected and inclusive future.”
AAW provides artists with a W2 salary, healthcare, and access to retirement benefits, allowing them to deepen their art practice and work collaboratively in response to local community needs. AAW recognizes that artists are essential workers and their creative output and ability to thrive artistically and financially are key contributors to the well-being of local communities. Since its inception in 2020, AAW has provided 74 artists and culture workers across 11 states with a salary and health benefits, leveraging their power and creativity in partnership with over 80 cultural and community organizations throughout the nation.
More information about AAW can be found at https://www.artists-at-work.org.