Roswell Museums and Arts Groups Offer Cultural Experiences This Fall and Winter

Sean Chaffin
For the Roswell Tribune

A symphony orchestra, art galleries and history museums are a few of the cultural offerings on tap this fall and winter in Roswell.

Fans of the arts have plenty of options to choose from during the fall and winter months, and The Tribune reached out to local museums on what to expect when dropping in for a visit.

Roswell Museum

The Roswell art museum scene really stands out, offering a home for works from internationally-recognized artists. That hasn’t come without some challenges.

The Roswell Museum sustained flood damage in October 2024, which affected the building and the property’s art collection. The facility remains closed as a result.

While conservation and recovery work continues, the museum is staying connected with the community through various programs, according to museum director Caroline Brooks. Second Saturdays is one of those and offers family-friendly activities and opportunities at the Roswell Public Library.

The new monthly Museum After Hours series at Stellar Coffee features short talks on collections, conservation, research and future plans followed by informal conversation and socializing.

“The museum is also continuing educational outreach, temporary displays and community engagement as planning for its future moves forward,” Brooks said.

For more information, visit www.roswellmuseum.org.

Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art

This world-class museum is home to the Roswell Artist in Residency (RAiR) program. The museum opened in 1994 following the launch of the RAiR program in 1967 and hosts more than 500 works in 12 galleries across 22,000 square feet of exhibition space.

The museum is dedicated to work produced by artists who have participated in the RAiR program. Visitors will find a unique collection of photographs, paintings, prints, drawings and sculpture representing the evolving issues in art over the last 45 years.

“The outside of the museum is fairly nondescript, a barn-type construction, but once they come in, they just are quickly overwhelmed by over 500 pieces of art we have on display, including a rotating exhibition,” said Museum Director Tonee Harbert.

Beyond works from the artist-in-residency program, the museum boasts a permanent collection and Harbert says some visitors spend hours taking it all in.

In the past, RAiR exhibitions were held at the Roswell Museum, but Anderson has been hosting those since its closure. After a year-long residency, artists are offered a museum show. The venue hosts the shows every two months, and they include a gathering, artist’s talk and reception.

The next show is set for Nov. 20 celebrating artist Tyler Bright Hilton, whose work explores themes of adolescent solipsism, escapism and bodily alienation. An exhibition is ongoing for Lydia Jenkins Musco, with several of her sculptures on display.

The museum purchases one piece from each artist to keep on permanent display. A total of 300 artists have now gone through the program with more than 700 works now in the permanent collection.

RAiR receives between 400 and 600 applications per year and has hosted artists from all over the world, including China, Australia, New Zealand, Iran, Zimbabwe, and more. The facility also puts on special events throughout the year, including piano recitals, productions of the Santa Fe Opera, and film screenings.

“It’s a pretty busy place,” Harbert says. “There’s always something new happening.”

For more information, visit www.rair.org.

International UFO Museum and Research Center

This facility focuses on what most people associate with Roswell – UFOs. The museum centers on reading materials, chronological timelines, original newspaper clippings and sworn affidavits from citizens, military personnel, and witnesses from the reported recovery of a “flying disc” near the city in July 1947.

According to deputy director Cat Martinez, the most popular attraction is a life-sized alien spacecraft diorama, which animates every 30 minutes with lights, a spinning saucer and smoke.

“Visitors also love the life-sized wooden replica of the carved sarcophagus lid of the Maya King Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal,” Martinez says. “Ancient astronaut theorists like Erich von Däniken popularized the carving, claiming that when viewed horizontally it depicts a pilot operating a mechanical spaceship.”

The simulation room offers an immersive experience depicting a fantastical scenario, with visitors taking on the role of alien explorers who chart a course to Earth and crash land. The museum gift shop is filled with alien memorabilia, from themed apparel and toys to books and alien jewelry.

Visitors can also check out year-round lectures and book signings with leading UFO researchers.

“We’re excited to open an alien-themed mini golf course soon,” Martinez says. “The 18-hole indoor course features multi-room blacklight and ChromaDepth 3D effects.”

For more information, visit www.roswellufomuseum.com.

Other Area Arts Groups

• Historical Society For Southeast New Mexico– Museum offering a complete look at the history of southeast New Mexico.
• General Douglas L. McBride Military Museum – Opened in 1985, the museum showcases the historical heritage of New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) and the Corps of Cadets.
• Walker Aviation Museum – The venue is devoted to this history of the Roswell Army Air Field and Walker Air Force Base.
• Roswell Symphony Orchestra – The group has featured professional musicians who have performed with symphonies across the U.S., Canada, and Europe for more than 60 years.
• Bone Springs Art Space – Home to creative opportunities like art classes, studio rentals, event space, and gallery exhibitions.
• The Gallery at Main Street Arts – Features works by several local artists in a wide variety of styles, subjects, and mediums.
• Roswell Community Little Theatre – Offering local theater performances since 1962.
• Way Way Off Broadway – Founded in 2014, this theater group seeks to provide professional-level theatrical experiences for performers and audiences alike.