In 2018, gallupARTS, in partnership with the City of Gallup, received a $150,000 “Our Town” grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Matched by $150,000 from local government, institutions, and organizations, this $300,000 total grant funded a creative placemaking project in downtown Gallup. It supported a community-based, collaborative design process to re-imagine Coal Avenue as a signature “event street” and creative commercial hub. “A Coal Avenue event street has tremendous potential to stimulate redevelopment and revitalization, transform our downtown into community-oriented art and cultural hub, and energize our creative economy,” says Rose Eason, Executive Director of gallupARTS. “gallupARTS could not be more enthusiastic about partnering with the City and community to create a new vision for downtown.”

The first phase of the new event street between Second and Third Streets was completed in the spring of 2021.  The second phase of the project, from Second to First Streets, will kick off in 2022. From above the street has influences from a concho belt design. The street has removable bollards at both ends to create an event space for outdoor festivals between First and Third Streets, including the walkway.

Coal Avenue Commons is the result of a partnership of multiple organizations and stakeholders in Gallup including the City of Gallup, gallupARTS, Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, Gallup Business Improvement District, State of New Mexico Department of Transportation, and Gallup Mainstreet Arts & Cultural District.