We're quickly proving a New model in Tucumcari, New Mexico:
Using art as an economic engine to revitalize small-town America.
The thesis is simple:
- Small towns have infrastructure but face population decline
- Creative people want to escape unlivable cities
- Large-scale art needs permanent homes
- Cultural tourism drives economic growth
So we built Art City: a 40-acre sculpture park and glamping destination giving 20,000 daily I-40 travelers a reason to stop, stay, and maybe even relocate.
The numbers that got us excited:
- 100,000+ annual room nights in town
- 1,500 existing motel rooms
- City infrastructure built for 14,000 (current pop. 4,000)
- 25%+ ROI target on development
But here's the exciting part: unlike urban gentrification, which pushes people out, we're proving that rural cultural development pulls people in. When your town has a declining population and dormant infrastructure, art becomes a magnet, not a displacement force.
Key learning: You don't need billions to transform a local economy.
You need:
- The right geography (thorough-fares + infrastructure)
- A reason to stop (large-scale interactive art)
- A reason to stay (nature + culture + community)
- A built-in viral loop (highly photogenic experiences)
This isn't just about Tucumcari.
It's a replicable model for the hundreds of small towns sitting on major highways across America.
Each is an opportunity to build cultural infrastructure that creates value for artists, residents, and visitors.
We're not building a city from scratch. We're breathing new life into places that already exist.
Kindly,
Matty Mo, aka The Most Famous Artist
Founder, Art City