The Española Valley Fiber Arts Center was founded in 1995 by a small group of weavers who learned that many families in the Española area had inherited looms but who had little knowledge of the techniques and heritage of Northern New Mexico weaving practiced by their grandparents. The group began to teach with donated looms and space in a local church, but quickly grew. With the need to accommodate these new enthusiastic weavers, they moved to rented space in Española, hired a manager, and formally opened their doors for business in October 1996.

The center soon taught a variety of formal classes and became the primary source of supplies and tools for local weavers. The group incorporated and became a nonprofit membership organization with 501(c)(3) status on September 17th, 1997, and defined its mission: to preserve and promote the rich textile heritage of Northern New Mexico by providing learning and teaching experiences for all ages and backgrounds, and by providing encouragement and training towards economic sustainability in the Fiber Arts.

A most important milestone in the growth of the organization was the purchase and restoration of the building it occupies today. With the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts, McCune Charitable Foundations and many private supporters, the Center was transformed by its iconic mural in the Summer of 2017. Lead artist Nani Chacon engaged youth from Española, Ohkay Owingeh, Abiquiu, and Ojo Caliente in the painting process, cultivating a new generation of artists and passing on the importance of Northern New Mexico’s Fiber Arts heritage.

In working closely with the community, The New Mexico Fiber Arts Center leadership became involved with the New Mexico Arts Division in the development of the Fiber Arts Trails and subsequently the New Mexico Fiber Artisans, both important resources that showcase the creative work produced by fiber artists across New Mexico.

The New Mexico Fiber Arts Center is the proud organizer of the New Mexico Fiber Crawl. The NM Fiber Crawl is the state’s largest reaching fiber arts event and engages local communities and economies throughout northern New Mexico, bringing tourists from across the United States. In addition to the crawl, the center also organizes New Mexico’s largest show dedicated solely to the fiber arts, Fall Fiber Fiesta.