Welcome to the Northern New Mexico College at El Rito!
We are located in the foothills of the Carson National Forest surrounded by multi-colored mesas and breathtaking Southwest scenery, the campus is 30 minutes from Española and an hour north of Santa Fe.
Northern New Mexico College at El Rito is the only campus in the United States that offers the following courses: Spanish Colonial Woodworking, Rio Grande Weaving, Adobe Construction, and Spanish Language Immersion available within one setting.
Students are taught by a handful of the Southwest's premier artists and instructors on an individual basis and in small classes. Under the guidance of these master artists and teachers, students learn fundamental carving techniques in Spanish Colonial Furniture Making; explore an infinite number of dyeing processes, colors and designs for Rio Grande Weavings; build adobe hornos and walls, and use natural pigments to highlight 2-D retablos and three-dimensional bultos. These art forms have origins dating back to the 16th and 17th century of southwest history.
Committed to maintaining the rich cultural heritage and arts legacy of the region, NNMC at El Rito expanded its mission and course offerings in 2005. The College also offers 2-day to 1-week classes in tinsmithing, traditional woodcarving, folk music/guitar, rag rug weaving, retablo making, and bulto making.
The NNMC at El Rito campus offers the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) to seasonal and migrant farm-workers and their children. Students are able to earn their GED in 10 weeks and move on to post-secondary education, military service or obtain employment.
Starting in June the campus comes alive with the arrival of local high school students participating in the 8 week Upward Bound Program. They take courses in everything the NNMC at El Rito campus has to offer.
We provide housing and cafeteria services.
We invite you to journey with us and discover this unforgettable world - rich in culture, language and the century old traditions found only in Northern New Mexico.
NNMC at El Rito is located approximately 12 miles off of Highway 84/285 (Turn off on highway 554). We provide shuttle service between the El Rito and Española campuses for a modest fee.
For information about the El Rito campus call 575-581-4100 or 575-581-4120 or please review the Campus Directory below to speak with our program directors about the career, technical and folk art programs.
Current class schedules are posted on this site and on the College’s main site.
Click here for Registration and Admission information.
David F. Trujillo
Interim President
Programs Offered at El Rito Campus
CAREER & TECHNICAL
Construction Trades Tech OTHER PROGRAMS
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FOLK ART PROGRAMS
Bulto & Retablo Making
QUICK LINKS
¡Se habla español! Con Señora Crestina Manzanares (575)-581-4120 |
| http://www.nnmc.edu |