Carson City community leader, cultural organization to receive Nevada Humanities Awards

People across Nevada nominated exceptional individuals and organizations for the 2019 Nevada Humanities Awards. These awards are for outstanding achievements in, and contributions to, the humanities, conferred bi-annually by Nevada Humanities.

From a host of nominees, 11 extraordinary individuals and organizations from across Nevada will be honored at the Nevada Museum of Art on April 18, 2019 for their outstanding contributions to Nevada’s communities using the tools of the humanities to strengthen and enhance the lives of the people of Nevada. Mark Salinas will receive a Humanities Rising Star Award, and Capital City Arts Initiative will receive the Friend and Champion of the Humanities Award.

Mark Salinas is a 2019 recipient of the Humanities Rising Star Award from Nevada Humanities. He is Director of Arts and Culture for Carson City. Originally from New York City where he worked in the NYC arts community, Salinas relocated to Nevada in the fall of 2016 where he currently serves as board member of the Nevada Arts Council. Salinas has had profound impact on the Carson City community by showcasing diversity and inclusion through the many art, literature, and humanities projects that he creates and coordinates.

Mark Salinas notes, “In my newly created position, I have been tasked with establishing a vision and structure to celebrate, promote, and nurture arts and culture in Carson City. Receiving this award is a recognition that Carson City is/I am on the right track. It is a reminder to keep taking risks and thinking big in terms of new possibilities for Carson City and Nevada.”

Another Carson City Nevada Humanities Award recipient, Capital City Arts Initiative (CCAI), is passionate about bringing arts and culture to local northern Nevada communities. For their work and vision, CCAI will receive a Friend and Champion of the Humanities Award from Nevada Humanities. Since its launch in 2003, CCAI has enriched northern Nevada through art exhibitions, a Nevada Neighbors speaker series, an annual residency, and its Artists in Education program.

Sharon Rosse, executive director of CCAI, said, "Nevada Humanities provides solid and ongoing support encouraging cultural enrichment throughout our state. CCAI is thrilled and honored to receive this award."

Awards will be presented at the 2019 Nevada Humanities Award Ceremony on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno. Achievement of the awardees (listed below) will be recognized. The following humanities luminaries were recently selected by a panel of their peers to receive the Nevada Humanities Award.

Judith Winzeler Award for Excellence in the Humanities: Judith F. Simpson, Reno, and Claytee D. White, Las Vegas.

Friend and Champion of the Humanities Award: Capital City Arts Initiative, Carson City, and Monique Laxalt, Reno.

Humanities Rising Star Award: Justin Favela, Las Vegas; Melissa Melero-Moose, Sparks; Vogue M. Robinson, North Las Vegas; and Mark Salinas, Carson City.

Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award: Colene Paradise, Owyhee, and Brett M. Van Hoesen, Reno.

Outstanding Humanities Project Award: National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Western Folklife Center, Elko.

Each of the 11 awardees will be on hand to accept their awards during a ceremony held at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno on Thursday, April 18, 2019, with a reception beginning at 4:30 pm, and the awards program beginning at 6:00 pm. Space is very limited, and tickets are required. Purchase tickets to the award ceremony by visiting nevadahumanities.org by April 11 2019. For more information about the Nevada Humanities and the Nevada Humanities Award visit: nevadahumanities.org.

About Nevada Humanities: Nevada Humanities is one of 56 independent, nonprofit state and territorial humanities councils affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities. With offices in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada Humanities creates public programs and supports public projects statewide that define the Nevada experience and facilitate the exploration of issues that matter to Nevadans and their communities.