ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 25, 2007--The Qwest Foundation today announced a $50,000 grant to the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art to sponsor the 56th annual Traditional Spanish Market, held on the downtown Plaza in Santa Fe, July 28-29. The Spanish Market is the oldest and largest exhibition and sale of traditional Spanish colonial art in the United States.

"The Santa Fe Spanish Market brings back many happy memories for me," said Loretta Armenta, Qwest president for New Mexico. "This is one of the wonderful events that make Santa Fe a truly special place in America. As the presenting sponsor, I'm proud that Qwest is able to contribute to its success."

"We are very pleased to partner once again with the Qwest Foundation, whose generous commitment of support complements our mission to celebrate the Spanish Colonial artistic traditions of New Mexico and their continuing evolution," said Bud Redding, director of the Spanish Market.

More than 300 native New Mexican artists - many of them nationally recognized - exhibit and sell their handmade artwork at the Spanish Market, an event that attracts the local community, tourists and serious art collectors from around the world. In addition to adult artists, a special youth exhibition area features the artwork of some 100 children, ages 6 to 17, who are developing skills passed down through the generations.

The Spanish Market will also include continuous music and dance performances; artists' studio tours in Santa Fe, Espanola, and Albuquerque; a class in traditional Spanish cooking techniques; a paella-making demonstration; and special menus at popular local restaurants.

About Qwest Foundation

The Qwest Foundation's core principle is that investing in people and communities provides lasting value for the future. The Qwest Foundation awards grants to community-based programs that generate high-impact and measurable results, focusing on pre-K through grade 12 education.

About the Traditional Spanish Market

In 1965 the Spanish Colonial Arts Society revived Spanish Market, which it originally had sponsored from 1926 until the mid-1930's. Held in conjunction with the annual Indian Market on the Santa Fe Plaza, it renewed the society's commitment to support the artistic growth of Hispanic artists native to New Mexico and southern Colorado and working in traditional art forms. Spanish Market remained part of Indian Market until 1972, when the event took its own place on the plaza during the last full weekend in July. A smaller Winter Market, started by the society in 1989, is held in downtown Santa Fe each December. Today, after two decades of market growth and change, the once-intimate Spanish Market has become the largest exhibition of traditional Hispanic Arts in the United States.

Copyright Business Wire 2007

Qwest Foundation

Qwest Foundation

The Qwest Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of customers and the communities we serve. It's more than just caring; it's a commitment to making a difference. The Qwest Foundation awards grants that generate high impact and measurable results through community-based programs in the area of pre-K through 12 education. We encourage you to learn more about the Foundation and request funding for your program. Qwest® is a leading provider of voice, video and data services across America and the world. For more than a century, homes and businesses have relied on our dependable dial tone connection. We value the strength and vitality we help bring to the communities where we live, work and play-through tens of thousands of volunteer hours donated by employees and retirees, our foundation contributions and numerous other avenues. In communications and community, our goal is to lead.

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