Maruca Salazar won the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2005 for past work in the Chicano art movement.
But winning it this year for the Museo de las Americas signals the work that lies ahead for the institution she has led for less than a year.
“It was a very pleasant surprise and welcome surprise,” said Salazar, who was named executive director of Museo de las Americas last May. “It will allow us to have a better standing and to recognize so many volunteers and sponsors who donated and contributed so much to (keep) this institution vibrant and alive.”
Recipients of the 2009 Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts were announced Wednesday. The awards will be presented later this month.
The award also will be given to the Flobots and VSA Colorado/Access Gallery.
This year, for the first time, the Mayor’s Cultural Legacy Award will be given posthumously to Shadow Theatre Company founder Jeffrey Wayne Nickelson, who died in September at age 53.
The Cultural Legacy Award is not an annual award. It is commonly reserved for patrons of the arts who contribute from behind the scenes.
“It’s the first time it’s being given posthumously, but Jeffrey just did so much, everyone thought it was the right thing to do,” said Gina Rubano, special-events coordinator for Denver’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
Nickelson’s daughter, ShaShauna Staton, said she was grateful for the honor.
“My father’s death has been the hardest time in my life. The news of this award came on a very hard day for me,” she said. “It was as if my daddy was telling me it will all be all right.”
The Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts has been given annually since 1986. It honors organizations and individuals who contribute to the arts in Denver.
The number of recipients varies each year. A committee makes the recommendations based on members’ reviews of approximately 30 nominations. The mayor reviews the recommendations and makes final selections.
Nickelson received the Excellence in Arts award in 2005.
The same year, Salazar and her husband, filmmaker Daniel Salazar, received the award for their contribution to the Chicano art movement in Colorado. She joined Museo de las Americas after 30 years working with Denver Public Schools as a teacher and later as the arts coordinator.
“My goal is to continue to promote new voices,” Salazar said.
One of the changes she hopes to make is to ensure every exhibit includes at least two local artists.
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1638 or yrobles@denverpost.com
