awards for arts achievement

Americans for the Arts presented the 2011 Selina Roberts Ottum Award to Libby Maynard, co-founder and executive director The Ink People Center for the Arts in Eureka, CA.

"We are honored to recognize Ms. Maynard for her contributions to the arts over the past 40 years," said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "She is an extremely effective leader who understands the importance of community vision and works tirelessly towards promoting the arts and artists."

A passionate supporter of the arts and artists, Ms. Maynard co-founded The Ink People Center for the Arts as a solution to her community’s economic woes in the in the late 1970s. As a result of her efforts, Eureka, CA/Humboldt County is today seen as a model community for the use of the arts as a means of healthy and positive cultural development.  In addition to her work leading The Ink People, Ms. Maynard serves on the Boards of Directors of Access Humboldt, Alliance for California Traditional Arts and Humboldt County Workforce Investment Board. And since 2005, she has served as staff to the City of Eureka's Art & Culture Commission, and sits on Eureka Main Street's Public Arts Committee. She has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors in California.