The first Executive Director was hired in 1991. For the next three years the Alliance conducted a grass roots planning process that included over 500 community activists, 65 public meetings, the distribution of 20,000 needs assessment questionnaires, and six drafts resulting in the Cultural Plan for the City of Albuquerque. In 1995, the Cultural Plan for Albuquerque was approved and the Alliance was designated to implement the plan.

In 2001, the Alliance coordinated the review and update of the Cultural Plan, with the participation of more than 35 individuals from all facets of the arts community. In December 2002, the update was adopted by the City Council and incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan. The alliance continues to be the deignated arts agency for the implementation of the Cultural Plan.