The Coal Heritage Highway Authority and National Coal Heritage Area Authority are accepting nominations for six coal heritage awards to recognize individuals, communities and organizations that work to preserve, promote and interpret the rich coal heritage of southern West Virginia.

Christy Bailey, executive director of the Coal Heritage Area Authority, said nominees for each of six awards may have done work to preserve coal heritage on their own or in partnership with the two Coal Heritage Authorities.

Projects must have taken place within the National Coal Heritage Area of Mercer, McDowell, Raleigh, Summers, Wyoming, Fayette, Boone, Logan, Mingo, Wayne, Lincoln and Cabell counties, and the Paint Creek and Cabin Creek watersheds in Kanawha County, she said.

Nominations must be received by Sept. 4.

Entry forms are available on the Coal Heritage website, www.coalheritage.org. Forms are also available by calling the Coal Heritage Highway Authority office, 304-465-3720, or by e-mailing Linda Hawkins, lhawkins@coalheritage.org.

Awards will be presented at the 2012 Miner’s Celebration Conference at a reception Oct. 4 at Tamarack.

Individuals, communities or groups may be nominated for the following six awards:

— The Nick Joe Rahall Award for Outstanding Achievement in Coal Heritage Preservation will be presented to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of hard work of the men and women of past coal communities. This award is given to acknowledge years of service and dedication the individual has made to coal heritage projects that have had significant impact in the National Coal Heritage Area.

— The Coal Heritage Award for Excellence in the Arts will be presented to an individual, community or organization that has captured the history of coal in artistic endeavors within the National Coal Heritage Area. This award acknowledges the creative efforts that bring coal history to life through the arts. This includes, but is not limited to, dramatic performances, music composition or recordings, or the visual arts.

— The Coal Heritage Marketing Award will be presented to an individual, organization or community that has created an outstanding marketing program promoting an attraction, community or event within the National Coal Heritage Area. This includes, but is not limited to, brochures, print ads, website design, television or radio ads, or earned media pieces.  

— The Coal Heritage Interpretation Award will be presented to an individual, organization or community that has achieved excellence in interpreting coal heritage within the National Coal Heritage Area. This includes, but is not limited to, exhibits, walking tours, interpretative brochures, audio guides, travel guides, docent interpretation or guided tours.

— The Coal Heritage Preservation Award will be presented to an individual, organization or community for an exceptional project that preserves artifacts or structures relating to coal heritage within the National Coal Heritage Area. This includes, but is not limited to, historic building renovation or restoration, adaptive re-use of historic buildings, designation of historic districts, artifact restoration or display, or oral history collections.

— The Coal Heritage Research and Documentation Award will be presented to an individual, organization or community for an outstanding research project that includes areas within the National Coal Heritage Area as part of the focus area. This includes, but is not limited to, articles, books, oral history projects, websites, or photography collections.

— E-mail: splummer@register-herald.com