Santa Fe Culture

There is not a better place on earth for graduate students to combine academic study, unparalleled natural beauty and colorful cultural vibrancy.

Founded in 1610, Santa Fe is the oldest and highest (7,200 feet) capital in the United States. Demographically, it is a blend of European (especially Spanish), Mexican, Pueblo and Navajo Peoples. 

Wikipedia offers this on the Santa Fe art scene: “Santa Fe’s art market is generally considered to be one of the three largest in the United States. The Canyon Road galleries showcase a wide array of contemporary, Southwestern, indigenous American, and experimental art, in addition to Russian, Taos Masters and Native American pieces.”

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A visit to Santa Fe is not complete without a hike up Canyon Road, even for the most casual art appreciator. For artists and art therapists, it is absolutely essential. You will also see the beautiful, detailed architecture on private homes, in Plaza hotels, and just about everywhere you turn in Santa Fe.

At 7,200 feet, the skies here are often shockingly dramatic and ever-changing; the sun shines over 300 days a year. In one hour or less you can travel from the Downtown Plaza to:

• El Santuario de Chimayo Shrine (the Lourdes of America)
• have lunch on the banks of the Rio Grande
• numerous walking, hiking & biking trails 
• visit the ancient pueblos of Cochiti, Taos or Ohkay Owingeh
• luxuriate in natural hot springs at Ojo Caliente, Ten Thousand Waves and Sunrise Springs
• head to Ski Santa Fe 

In the summer months, the Plaza explodes with art, color and music as the Fiesta, Spanish Market and “Santa Fe Indian Market” electrify the art community and the Plaza stage offers live music most nights. The local farmer’s market runs year-round including both a Saturday market and Artisan market, featuring locally grown produce, eggs, goat cheese, meat and baked goods, herbs, wine tasting, textiles, gifts, arts and crafts. The festival of Zozobra is our local “burning man” celebration, and in October of each year, Albuquerque hosts the acclaimed International Balloon Fiesta. Visually and musically stunning, Deer, Corn and other special Dances are held at the 19 northern New Mexico pueblos at various times of the year. 

The spiritual/psychological/healing climate is diverse, open-minded and all-embracing. Many say that Santa Fe is a “spiritual vortex,” which attracts energy healers and shamanic practitioners, supports a Jungian Society and is home to the kinds of people that present at our own annual Transformation and Healing Conference.

Additionally, you will have ample opportunities to visit ashrams, Friends Meeting Houses, a Catholic Basilica, Tibetan Stupas, New Thought Centers, Synagogues, and the Hanuman Temple in Taos.

Communing with nature is one of the biggest cultural pastimes here. Hiking enjoys a huge popularity, as do biking, rafting and a New Mexico specialty, sky-watching. The hoodoos at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, the cave dwellings at Bandelier National Monument and Aspen Ridge at peak color are only a few of many amazing experiences to be had in or near Santa Fe.

Colorful, wonderful, exciting, artistic, stunning. This is Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is an experience of a lifetime to attend graduate school and live here.