2009 Humanities Washington Award
Call for Nominations from Northeastern Washington
Humanities Washington is pleased to announce that the 2009 Humanities Washington award will recognize the efforts of an individual or organization from Northeastern Washington. Established in 1995 in memory of Heather C. Frank of Yakima, the award honors the efforts of an individual or organization for exemplary work in bringing the humanities to communities in Washington State.

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 contribution to a humanities non-profit organization. To be considered, nominees must live in Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry or Lincoln Counties. The recipient will be selected by a committee of local humanities experts led by Humanities Washington board members Lucia Huntington (retired, Gonzaga University) and Bridget Piper (Sterling Savings Bank).

Visit the award page for more information on the history of the award, nomination procedures and a full list of past recipients.

Enjoy Wine and Words with Bedtime Stories Authors
Tickets Available for Salon Events in Seattle & Walla Walla
March 18, 6 - 9pm, Playwright Keri Healey, Seattle: Join playwright, actor and director Keri Healey for a lively discussion about the process of creating, rehearsing and performing a brand-new play. Her recent works include One Twelve and Cherry Cherry Lemon. In 2004 Healey was chosen by Seattle Dramatists as one of its five inaugural Principal Playwrights. In 2005 The Stranger named Healey as “One to Watch” in their annual Genius Awards issue. Thank you to Humanities Washington board member AJ Epstein of Ethereal Mutt Ltd. theater productions for hosting this event.

April 4, 7 - 9pm, Author Daniel Orozco, Walla Walla: Enjoy an evening with author Daniel Orozco discussing writing, publishing and the creative process. Orozco’s work has appeared in Best American Essays, Best American Short Stories and Best American Mystery Stories, and in such magazines as Harper’s, McSweeney’s and Zoetrope. He is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship and teaches in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Idaho. Thank you to the evening’s host Dan Lamberton, Humanities Washington board member and Humanities Department Chair at Walla Walla University.

April 24, 6 - 9pm, Author Teri Hein, Seattle: Join us for an evening of libations and literary arts with Teri Hein, Founding Executive Director of 826 Seattle, a writing lab for children in Seattle. Hein's work has appeared in such places as A Road of Her Own, a book of women’s travel essays, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine and on NPR’s "All Things Considered."  Her most recent book is the memoir Atomic Farmgirl. Thank you to Humanities Washington board member Diane Douglas (CityClub of Seattle) for hosting.

Call 206-682-1770 or visit the Salon Events page for more information on these and other upcoming events.

Cook-Offs, Apron Competitions and Cooking Lessons in Renton
Renton History Museum hosts Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit
Key Ingredients: March 21 – May 10
Key Ingredients: America by Food opens at the Renton History Museum on March 21. The exhibit, developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, explores the connections we have with the foods we produce, prepare, preserve and present at the table.

An accompanying local exhibit, Sustaining a City, examines Renton’s unique agricultural, cooking and eating traditions. Several events are scheduled throughout the exhibit's run, including a live broadcast of 97.3 KIRO Radio's "In the Kitchen with Tom and Thierry," from 4 to 7pm on Saturday, March 21.

Renton is the sixth site to host Key Ingredients during its two-year, 10-site tour of Washington State. For more information on the exhibit and related events, visit the Renton History Museum Web site.

Call for Inquiring Mind Speaker Applications
Online Applications Available March 20 - April 13
Auditions to be held June 1 (Seattle) & June 4 (Spokane)
Humanities Washington is seeking presenters to join our dynamic roster of humanities speakers. Inquiring Mind presenters visit libraries, community centers and other venues throughout the state and speak on a range of topics including history, literature, philosophy and public policy. Speakers must be Washington residents, and scholars or experts on the topics they wish to present. Speakers must be genuinely interested in addressing public audiences, have experience in speaking outside a formal classroom, and be willing to travel throughout the state. Speakers must commit to at least 10 presentations during the program year which runs from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.

The online application will be available beginning Friday, March 20 and must be completed by Monday, April 13. Visit our Inquiring Mind page for more information and access to the online application system.

In Memory of Barbara A. Krohn
Barbara Krohn passed away on February 8, 2009 at the age of 83. She was a dedicated supporter of the humanities and Humanities Washington, served as our board president from 1975 to 1978, and was honored for her work with the 1999 Humanities Washington Award. Gus Norwood, former Director of the Fort Vancouver Historical Society, said in his nomination letter: "We think of her as a woman for all seasons and it has been a long lifetime of seasons during which she has helped to enunciate and spell out the meaning of the humanities in the state of Washington." We will miss you, Barbara.

Read the full Seattle Times Obituary

Recent Quick Grant Awards:
Contemporary Arts Alliance - Spokane
   “Spokane International Film Festival”
Washington State Jewish Historical Society - Seattle
   “Jewish in America: Six-Generation Family Tree Exhibit”
Dayton Historical Depot Society - Dayton
   “Rural Schools of Columbia County Photography Exhibit”
Island County Historical Society - Coupeville
   “Swinomish Exhibit Development”