Las Cruces reviews museums master plan update; council members question moving Museum of Art to Municipal Court

Carol Bray, director of the City of Las Cruces Quality of Life Department, and Garland Courts, deputy director for quality of life and deputy director of museums, updated the City Council at a March 10, 2025 work session on progress implementing the Las Cruces Museums Master Plan adopted in 2021.

The presentation summarized short-range priorities and actions taken since 2021, including a new visitor-experience hire, increased public programming and partnerships, a recent increase in off-site and on-site outreach, and an expansion of collections storage. "We were able to hire a person that would drive our visitor experience," Garland Courts said, and that staff member has led quarterly community forums, surveys and outreach at community events.

The master plan, Courts said, has two parts: a short-range plan with goals and priorities, and a facilities-focused master plan addressing identity, stewardship and functionality. Courts told the council the museum system's collection is “over 11,000 items,” and staff…