Humanities Washington Honors Northeast Washington Leaders

Humanities Washington is proud to present the 2009 award to Donivan Johnson of Metaline Falls for individual achievement and to the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture of Spokane for organizational achievement. The Award, given each year in memory of Heather C. Frank of Yakima, recognizes an individual or organization whose time and talents enlarge the meaning of the humanities in our lives.

This is the first year Humanities Washington chose recipients from a specific geographic area (Northeast Washington). 2009 is also the first year the award has been awarded to an individual and an organization.

Educator Donivan Johnson Donivan Johnson
Donivan Johnson received his Master of Arts in Composition from California State University, Northridge. He serves as the only K-12 music instructor for the Selkirk School District in Ione, WA. For his dedication to students, Johnson is listed in Who’s Who Among American Teachers.

In 2001, Selkirk was designated as “One of the 100 Best Communities for Music Education in America.” The Selkirk music program has been featured on "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered" for National Public Radio.

As a composer, his cantata Arise, My Love received its premiere in Basel, Switzerland on June 5, 1999; Lindisfarne Ground (piano and un-pitched bells) was selected for performance at the Society of Composers Region VI Conference, University of Texas, San Antonio in February, 2005. His children’s piano piece entitled Kinderstück Nach Webern: Laughing Man received its premiere during March 2005 in San Francisco.

Johnson has been invited to present his original research on and his unique approach to the music of Anton Webern (1883 – 1945) and Helmut Lachenmann (1935 - ) a number of times. He has presented at the Regional and National Conferences for the Society of Composers, Inc; National Conference for the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers; Southwest Contemporary Music Festival and Conference; and at Whitworth College, where he delivers the annual Hans Moldenhauer Memorial Lecture.

Northwest Musem of Arts & Culture (the 'MAC')
The ‘MAC’ is a multidisciplinary museum, serving over 100,000 visitors and 12,000 school children in the Inland Northwest each year. Since opening its new building in 2001, the MAC has hosted dozens of exhibitions and programs featuring Regional History, American Indian Culture, and the Inland Northwest’s historical and contemporary Art.

Founded in 1916 as the Eastern Washington State Historical Society and chartered by the State of Washington in 1926, the MAC was one of the first museums in the state to be accredited by the American Association of Museums in 1972. Accreditation confirms that the MAC upholds the highest standards of collections management, conservation and exhibitions. This, together with its Smithsonian Affiliation, means that, in addition to providing expertly researched and interpreted exhibits from its own collections, the MAC has been able to bring outstanding traveling exhibits and programs from around the country to the region.

Education at the MAC enhances the museum’s changing exhibits and explores its three disciplines: Regional History, Art, and American Indian Culture. Programs for students and teachers are highly interactive and directly support Washington State’s public school curriculum. Family programs emphasize fun intergenerational learning experiences. Adult programs highlight recognized scholars, experts, authors, and artists.