Salinas, Carson City Arts Initiative to receive Nevada Humanities Award

Carson City Arts Initiative and Carson City Art and Culture Coordinator Mark Salinas will be honored with 2019 Nevada Humanities Awards.

Salina will receive a Humanities Rising Star Award and CCAI will receive the Friend and Champion of Humanities Award. They will be among 11 individuals and organizations from across Nevada to be honored at the Nevada Museum of Art on April 18 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.

Originally from New York City where he worked in the arts community, Salinas relocated to Nevada in fall 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.

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.”

CCAI is passionate about bringing arts and culture to local northern Nevada communities. 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 at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno. Others who were selected by a panel of their peers to receive the Nevada Humanities Award were:

Judith Winzeler Award for Excellence in the Humanities: Judith F. Simpson, Reno, and Claytee D. White, Las Vegas; Humanities Rising Star Award: Justin Favela, Las Vegas; Melissa Melero-Moose, Sparks; Vogue M. Robinson, North Las Vegas; Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award: Colene Paradise, Owyhee, and Brett M. Van Hoesen, Reno; and 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, with a reception beginning at 4:30 p.m., and the awards program beginning at 6. Space is limited, and tickets are required. Purchase tickets to the award ceremony by visiting nevadahumanities.org by April 11. For information about the Nevada Humanities and the Nevada Humanities Award visit nevadahumanities.org.