New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham recently allocated $40 million to establish the Next Generation Media Academy (NGMA), reflecting a major investment in the state’s film and digital media workforce.
The academy will provide cutting edge training, paid apprenticeships, and real-world practice in a state-of-the-art production environment, while aiming to create a direct pipeline for industry employment. Additionally, NGMA will operate in collaboration with 15 of New Mexico’s higher education institutions, launching a curriculum in accordance with media industry standards.
According to The New Mexico Film Office, the roughly 9,000 New Mexicans who comprise the state’s film and television industry generated an estimated $1.37 billion in economic output in FY20-21. In 2021, 103 productions were filmed across the state, including widely viewed content featured on Netflix, NBCUniversal, Amazon and Sony.
Funding for the academy was established in New Mexico’s House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 333, signed into law on March 9. Access the link below to read the New Mexico Film Office press release and learn more about the Next Generation Media Academy.