We just turned 50, and it’s National Arts and Humanities Month. To celebrate, are honoring 50 people and organizations across the state with the Humanities Washington Award.  

The Humanities Washington Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the public humanities—people and organizations who bring new stories to light, connect their communities, and encourage us all to think, reflect, and learn. Two awards are typically presented each year, but this year—to celebrate a half-century of enhancing human connections—we decided to go big.  

The honorees include scholars, museums, media outlets, historical societies, authors, community leaders, philanthropists and more. Up to ten awards of $1,000 each were given in five geographic regions across Washington State (Central, Central Puget Sound, Eastern, Northwestern/Islands, and Southwestern/Coast), and a handful of folks whose work spans the state are being recognized with statewide awards. Recipients were nominated by community members and chosen in partnership with community leaders in those regions.  

In presenting these awards, we aim to not only honor previous work, but recognize the strong foundation that will carry us forward for the next 50 years. 

The Humanities Washington award is funded through a generous gift from the Frank Family of Yakima in honor of Heather and Herb Frank, who were dedicated supporters of the humanities during their lifetime.  

The recipients will be honored at an online celebration on December 10. More details to come. 

“The public humanities are about all of us and so many people contribute to the greater community dialogue every day,” said Julie Ziegler, CEO and Executive Director of Humanities Washington. “As we celebrate 50 years as an organization, and plan for 50 more, we wanted to recognize the many people who have given so much and set the stage for the future.”

Congratulations to all honorees, and to those who were nominated. We are grateful for all you do for the humanities!

 

The Awardees

 

Central Washington

John Baule

Cragg and Barbara Smith Gilbert

Annie Poyner

Yesenia Hunter

Anna King

Methow Conservancy

Sandy Pérez Zárate

Carolyn and Glenn Schmekel

Meg Vellejos McCoy

Cindy Williams Gutierrez

 

Central Puget Sound

Feliks Banel

Mitchell Keo

Shin Yu Pai

The Rhapsody Project

Anu Taranath

Janet Wong

Cascadia Poetics Lab

 

Eastern Washington

Leroy Ashby

Terry Buffington

Donna Daudt Ledford

FāVS News

Friends of Liberty Lake Municipal Library

Charles Lassiter

Rachael Low

Nigerian American Association of the Inland Northwest

Sharma Shields

Spectrum Center Spokane

 

Northwestern/Islands

Deborah Dine Rice

Empty Bowl Press

Jeff Jewell

Catherine (Kate) Reavey

Salish Current

Rosalee Walz

 

Southwestern/coast

Andre Bouchard

Abby Braithwaite

Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum

Tanna Engdahl

Christopher Luna

Alison McCartan

Linda Reid

Sam Robinson

Donna Sinclair

 

 

Statewide

Manny Cawaling

Kevin Craft

Beth Harrington

Lisa Kranseler

Makaela Kroin

Kate Laughlin

Washington State Historical Society

Tese Wintz Neighbor