List_of_National_Medal_of_Arts_recipients

National Medal of Arts

National Medal of Arts

Award and title created by the U.S. Congress in 1984

The National Medal of Arts is an award and title created by the United States Congress in 1984, for the purpose of honoring artists and patrons of the arts. A prestigious American honor, it is the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government. Nominations are submitted to the National Council on the Arts, the advisory committee of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), who then submits its recommendations to the White House for the President of the United States to award.[1] The medal was designed for the NEA by sculptor Robert Graham.

Quick Facts Awarded for, Country ...
US President George W. Bush with several of the 2005 National Medal of Arts awardees

Laureates

In 1983, prior to the official establishment of the National Medal of Arts, through the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, President Ronald Reagan awarded a medal to artists and arts patrons.[2]

More information Name, Area of Achievement ...

Recipients of the National Medal of Arts

The National Medal of Arts was first awarded in 1985. The ceremony was not held in 2021 or 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic therefore the 2021 recipients were given the award in 2023.[3]

More information Year, Name ...

Declined honors

In 1989, composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein refused his award, allegedly due to how a federal grant to an art show on AIDS had been revoked.[8]

In 1992, composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim refused his award, claiming that the NEA had "become a victim of its own and others' political infighting and is rapidly being transformed into a conduit and a symbol of censorship and repression rather than encouragement and support".[9]

In 1997, poet Adrienne Rich refused her award as a protest against "inconsistencies" between art and "the cynical politics" of the Clinton administration.[10]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "National Endowment for the Arts 2018 Guide" (PDF). National Endowment for the Arts. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  2. [2]
    "National Medal of Arts by Year". National Endowment for the Arts. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  3. [3]
    Vazquez, Maegan; Carvajal, Nikki (21 March 2023). "Bruce Springsteen, Gladys Knight among group honored at the White House". CNN. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  4. [4]
    "President Donald J. Trump to Award the National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal". The White House. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  5. [5]
    Hutter, Victoria (January 15, 2021). "National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Congratulates Recipients of the 2020 National Medal of Arts". www.arts.gov. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  6. [6]
    "President Donald J. Trump Awarded the National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal". The White House. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  7. [7]
    "Bruce Springsteen to get National Medal of Arts from Biden". CBS News. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  8. [8]
    Kimmelman, Michael (1989-11-16). "Leonard Bernstein Refuses The National Medal of Arts". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  9. [9]
    Brozan, Nadine (1992-05-13). "Chronicle". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  10. [10]
    "Hot Ink". www.hotink.com.
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