Hank Hine Named Commander (Encomienda) of The Order of Isabel la Católica
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Hank Hine, Ph.D., executive director of The Dalí Museum, received one of Spain’s highest civilian honors — the Order of Isabel la Católica from King Felipe VI, head of the Order, in recognition of Hine’s contributions to building culture and international understanding. Under Hine’s leadership of The Dalí, the Museum has built an architectural masterpiece to display its world-class collection, introducing Spanish art, food and culture to millions of visitors, including hundreds of thousands of regional students.
His Excellency Santiago Cabanas, Spanish Ambassador to the United States, presented the award to Hine on behalf of His Majesty King Felipe VI in a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on April 20 at the Ambassador’s residence.
“The Order of Isabella the Catholic is bestowed on individuals who have distinguished themselves for their work in promoting and reinforcing the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Spain and the rest of the nations of the world. Hank Hine has done just that, with great accomplishment,” Cabanas said. “As director of The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, Hank Hine has brought Spanish culture to the wider public through the work and life of Dalí. We thank Hank for that.”
His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain inducted Hine into Spain’s Order of Isabel la Católica at the rank of Commander (comYC) (Encomienda), a high rank of the prestigious Spanish civil order. Founded in 1815 by King Ferdinand VII to honor Queen Isabella I, the Order of Isabel la Católica rewards “the firm allegiance to Spain and the merits of Spanish citizens and foreigners in good standing with the Nation and especially in those exceptional services provided in pursuit of territories in America and overseas,” according to the office of the Spanish ambassador. Other notable members of the Order include Nelson Mandela, Eva Perón, Prince Harry and Plácido Domingo.
In his acceptance address to the Ambassador, Embassy staff, trustees of The Dalí, museum colleagues and the Hine family, Hine remarked that the award was conferred on an entire community—those who welcomed The Dalí to St. Petersburg, the founders, staff, trustees and volunteers whose embrace of the power of art have propelled all the Museum’s achievements. He observed that the ambition of the Museum is to provide an empowerment for human betterment through demonstration of Dalí’s skill in representation and the example that art provides of fresh approaches to the world.
Under Hine’s leadership for more than two decades, The Dalí now welcomes as many as 400,000 visitors annually to the Museum, alongside hundreds of compelling educational programs and community events. In addition to his instrumental role in the creation of the award-winning, HOK-designed building, Hine has elevated the Museum’s special exhibitions both at The Dalí and around the world by collaborating with preeminent collections. Hine’s dedication to education and innovation has paved the way for the Museum to develop award-winning digital experiences that provide new ways to understand and appreciate art. And, through The Dalí’s Innovation Lab, which Hine co-directs, the Museum connects with the business community to teach Dalí’s methodologies in creativity and innovation.
About Hank Hine
Hank Hine, Ph.D., earned his undergraduate degree at Stanford University and his master’s and doctorate degrees at Brown University. He has extensive experience with contemporary artists and writers at the intersection of media. Hine was founder and director of Hine Editions/Limestone Press, a San Francisco publishing house specializing in artist books and the production of museum catalogs. He served for seven years as director of the research and publishing institute Graphicstudio at the University of South Florida in Tampa before joining The Dalí in 2002. Hine also founded the Innovation Labs at The Dalí Museum, which pairs art and art strategies with 60 years of research on creativity and innovation. A writer and educator, Hine’s publication subjects include text and image relationships, contemporary art and the opportunities of new media.
About The Dalí Museum
The Dalí Museum, located in picturesque downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to one of the most acclaimed collections of a single modern artist in the world, with over 2,000 works representing every moment and medium of Salvador Dalí’s creative life. The Dalí is recognized internationally by the Michelin Guide with a three-star rating; has been deemed “one of the top buildings to see in your lifetime” by AOL Travel News; and was named one of the 10 most interesting museums in the world by Architectural Digest. The Dalí’s acclaimed digital experiences have received numerous national and international awards for creative innovation. The Museum is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to preserve Dalí’s legacy for generations to come and serve as an active resource in the cultural life of the community and the world at large. The Dalí is open daily, located at 1 Dalí Blvd., St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. For more information visit TheDali.org or download the free Dalí Museum App.
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