SEATTLE, WA.- In a public event at the Seattle Art Museum this morning, Bruce Cole, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, announced a $400,000 implementation grant to support the Museum’s upcoming exhibition S’abadeb—The Gifts: Pacific Coast Salish Art, the first major exploration of the unique artistry and culture of Coast Salish First Peoples of Washington State and British Columbia.

At today’s event, SAM Director Mimi Gates also announced that The Boeing Company will serve as the exhibitions Presenting Corporate Sponsor.

Organized by SAM and curated by SAM’s Barbara Brotherton, S’abadeb—The Gifts: Pacific Coast Salish Art features more than 175 artworks from national and international collections, offering a glimpse into the daily and ceremonial lives of the 40 groups comprising the Coast Salish. The exhibition will be on view at SAM Oct. 24, 2008, through Jan. 11, 2009, before traveling to the Heard Museum, Phoenix (Feb. 21, 2009–Aug. 16, 2009), and the Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC (Nov. 20, 2009–March 8, 2010).

“[The Salish art] exhibition provides a rare opportunity to see works gathered from many collections,” says NEH Chairman Cole. “Visitors will be inspired by these treasures celebrating the gifts of family, community and artistic creativity. The National Endowment for the Humanities is proud to make possible an exhibition featuring the unique art and rich culture of the Salish peoples.”

“We are so pleased to receive such generous support for this important exhibition,” says SAM’s Mimi Gates. “Native American art is one of the Museum’s strongest collections, and is central to our region’s history and culture. It’s exciting to see the NEH and Boeing embrace our mission in exhibiting this stunning art.”

Today’s community event, which was held in the Museum’s Native American galleries, was co hosted by Duwamish, Suquamish and Squamish tribal officials and was punctuated by live Native American music. As the Honorable Leonard Forsman, chairman of the Suquamish Tribe, has stated, “I hope that [visitors] will learn about the Coast Salish people, our expressions of culture and our values, and pass them on to your friends and family.”