MIAC | July 2024

The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture (MIAC) is pleased to announce Elisa Phelps has been named Head of Curatorial Affairs. Phelps brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in Native American art and culture, and her leadership is set to enhance the museum’s mission of preserving and celebrating the diverse cultural heritage of Native American communities. In her new role Phelps will oversee the museum’s curatorial department, leading efforts to expand and diversify MIAC’s programming, develop new exhibitions, and engage with Native American communities to ensure their voices are represented and honored in the museum’s programming.

Phelps is originally from Houston, Texas, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Southwest Studies focusing on Anthropology from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado and a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester, England. Phelps considers herself extremely fortunate to have been able to spend her career working in museums, most recently as Vice President and Chief Curatorial Officer at the Eiteljorg Museum, in Indianapolis, where she oversaw the curatorial, collections, and exhibition teams. Phelps served as project director for the 2022 reinstallation of the Eiteljorg’s 12,500 square foot core Native American galleries Expressions of Life: Native Art in North America.

Phelps will be busy preparing for the upcoming opening of the JoAnn and Bob Balzer Native Market & Contemporary Art Gallery exhibition opening featuring a selection of contemporary market art pieces. Save the date – MNMF plans to co-host a great opening event the evening of Thursday, August 15!

In other news, the Education department is excited to launch a free Summer Native Dance Series. Dance performance are at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the Milner Plaza Performance Circle each first Sunday, and will include Tesuque Pueblo Dance Group, the Third Annual Nakota LaRance Youth Hoop Dance Championship, the Oak Canyon Dancers (Pueblo of Jemez), White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers and more. To stay up to date with MIAC’s event, click here to join their monthly newsletter.