The State of New Mexico's Cultural Affairs Department has approved the destruction of the mural titled Multi-cultural in the Railyard district of Santa Fe, NM to make way for the new Vladem Contemporary Art Museum.

The mural was first created in the 1980s by local artists to portray New Mexico’s diverse cultures. This is a part of Santa Fe's history and an important representation of the distinct communities that represent New Mexico.

There is widespread support to keep the mural or an equivalent replacement. Funding has already been allocated by Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque) and one of the original artists has agreed to work with the community on restoration or replacement.

The Cultural Affairs Department wants to create a temporary version of the mural inside of the new museum. This is unacceptable! Public art is vital to our community identity and must be accessible to all. The mural must remain, or a new mural to take its place, created by local artists with community support. Santa Fe is drastically being gentrified and this will be yet another example of cultural erasure if we do not save the mural!