Call for Nominations: 2009 Humanities Washington Award

Spokane Committee to Focus on Local Pool of Nominees for Statewide Honor

Spokane - Humanities Washington, the only statewide organization dedicated to supporting public humanities programs in Washington, is accepting nominations for the annual Humanities Washington Award. For the first time in the Award’s 15-year history, Humanities Washington will select an honoree from a specific region: Northeast Washington.

Nominations are due March 30 and may be submitted by email to info@humanities.org. The recipient will be honored at an award reception in Spokane on June 4, and will be given the opportunity to direct a $1000 donation to the non-profit organization of their choice. To be considered, nominees must live in Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry or Lincoln Counties.

Established in 1995 in memory of Heather C. Frank of Yakima, the award honors an individual or organization in the state who has demonstrated imaginative leadership in the humanities. Potential recipients include historians, writers, documentary filmmakers and cultural experts and/or those working in the fields of history, language, philosophy, ethics, religion or literature. Tribal Elder Vi Hilbert of Mt. Vernon, Wenatchee educator Judy Trefethen, and Washington’s most beloved book expert, Nancy Pearl, are examples of former honorees.

For more information on the award, instructions on how to nominate an individual or organization or to view a complete list of past recipients, visit http://www.humanities.org/awards.

Humanities Washington is the only statewide organization dedicated to the humanities and is committed to providing humanities programs that nurture creativity, promote dialogue and spark critical thinking. Its programs include grants for humanities projects; Motheread, a family literacy program; Inquiring Mind, a speakers bureau featuring dynamic presenters on a broad range of humanities topics; and Museum on Main Street, an exhibits program which brings high-quality Smithsonian exhibitions to small- to medium-sized museums.