Jan. 17—Performance Santa Fe, an organization that has brought music, dance and theater performances to the city for 88 years, announced Friday on its website it will close its doors this year.

Organization leaders said all remaining performances will be canceled and ticketholders will receive full refunds.

"This closure reflects the broader challenges facing arts organizations across the country, including shifting audience habits and entertainment choices," Natalie Beller, vice president of the organization's board, said in a statement on Performance Santa Fe's website.

The board made the decision to shut down Wednesday.

Neither the online statement nor officials' subsequent response to questions from The New Mexican provided any details about the reason for the shutdown. Performance Santa Fe was not suffering from any indebtedness issues, officials said.

Jordan Guenther, interim executive director of Tourism Santa Fe, the city's tourism department, noted in an email "the performing arts as a whole is a massive draw for visitation to Santa Fe," and the loss of the organization would have an effect in the community.

"The announcement certainly came as shocking news to me, as I'm sure it did to others in the arts community," Guenther wrote. "Any time an organization that's deeply rooted into the fabric of a community for 80+ years decides to cease operations it has an impact."

Guenther said he didn't have any data showing the specific economic impact of Performance Santa Fe.

In their response to questions, officials with the nonprofit said the organization had no remaining employees and all tasks were being performed by independent contractors who were working with members of the board's Executive Committee.

The administrative office is expected to remain open long enough to properly see to all those details, while the Executive Committee will decide how to dispose of any remaining physical assets in accordance with applicable law, the officials said.

Performance Santa Fe has been without a board president since Nov. 3, when Leah Gordon stepped aside to deal with family matters, officials said.

Gordon was due to take over as the organization's interim director after executive and artistic director Amy Iwano was fired Nov. 17, 2023, prompting an exodus of personnel that ultimately left the company with a single employee, according to a Dec. 17, 2023, report in The New Mexican.

Still, the organization persevered for another year, most recently welcoming Broadway, TV and film star Kristin Chenoweth to the Lensic Performing Arts Center in December for a sold-out one-woman show. But the organization's final two shows of the 2024-25 season — the next of which was planned for April 5 — have been canceled.

Officials from the Lensic did not respond to requests for comment Friday on the shutdown.

The organization — known as the Santa Fe Concert Association before a rebranding in 2014 — began bringing performances to the city in 1937. It also offered education programs such as the Masterclass Series for aspiring musicians, dancers and actors; the Arts for Life mentoring initiative supporting musical and performing arts classes in Santa Fe Public Schools; and the Field Trip Series, which brought fifth and sixth graders to matinee performances of world-class acts.

"Performance Santa Fe's contributions to the city's cultural landscape have been marked by innovation and resilience," the organization's statement says. "Over the decades, PSF's programming has consistently evolved to meet the changing times while staying true to its commitment to artistic excellence. While the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact, PSF leaves a legacy of inspiration and leadership in the performing arts."

Nathan Brown of The New Mexican contributed to this report.