National Medal of Arts
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. It is the highest honor conferred to an individual artist on behalf of the people. Honorees are selected by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and ceremoniously presented the award by the President of the United States. The medal was designed for the NEA by sculptor Robert Graham.
Laureates
In 1983, prior to the official establishment of the Medal, the following artists and patrons received a medal from President Reagan, arranged by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities:
1980s
1990s
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
- Harry Belafonte - singer, actor
- Dave Brubeck - pianist, bandleader, composer
- Celia Cruz - singer, also known as the queen of salsa.
- Dorothy DeLay - violin teacher
- Julie Harris - actress
- Erick Hawkins - dance choreographer
- Gene Kelly - dancer, singer, actor
- Pete Seeger - composer, lyricist, vocalist, banjo player
- Catherine Filene Shouse - arts patron
- Wayne Thiebaud - artist, teacher
- Richard Wilbur - poet, teacher, critic, literary translator
- Young Audiences - arts presenter
1995
1996
- Edward Albee - playwright
- Sarah Caldwell - opera conductor
- Harry Callahan - photographer
- Zelda Fichandler - theater director, producer, educator
- Eduardo "Lalo" Guerrero - composer, musician
- Lionel Hampton - musician, bandleader
- Bella Lewitzky - dancer, choreographer, teacher
- Vera List - arts patron
- Robert Redford - actor, director, producer
- Maurice Sendak - writer, illustrator, designer
- Stephen Sondheim - composer, lyricist
- Boys Choir of Harlem - performing arts youth group
1997
1998
1999
2000s
2000
2001
2002
2003
- Austin City Limits - PBS television program
- Beverly Cleary - writer
- Rafe Esquith - arts educator
- Suzanne Farrell - dancer, choreographer, company director, educator
- Buddy Guy - blues musician
- Ron Howard - actor, director, writer, producer
- Mormon Tabernacle Choir - choral group
- Leonard Slatkin - symphony orchestra conductor
- George Strait - country singer, songwriter
- Tommy Tune - dancer, actor, choreographer, director
2004
2005
2006
- William Bolcom, composer
- Cyd Charisse, dancer
- Roy DeCarava, photographer
- Wilhelmina Holladay, arts patron
- Interlochen Center for the Arts, summer arts camp and winter arts-focused boarding high school
- Erich Kunzel, conductor
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band, jazz ensemble
- Gregory Rabassa, literary translator
- Viktor Schreckengost, industrial designer/sculptor
- Ralph Stanley, bluegrass musician
2007
2008
- Stan Lee, writer, editor, and creator of many comic books.
- Richard M. Sherman, songwriter
- Robert B. Sherman, songwriter
- Olivia de Havilland, actress
- Hank Jones, jazz pianist
- Jesús Moroles, sculptor
- Ford's Theatre Society, historic theatre organization
- Fisk Jubilee Singers, (Fisk University), African-American choral group
- José Limón Dance Foundation, dance troupe
- The Presser Foundation, music philanthropy organization
2009[1]
- Bob Dylan, singer-songwriter[2]
- Clint Eastwood, actor and director
- Milton Glaser, graphic designer
- Maya Lin, artist and architect
- Rita Moreno, singer and actor
- Jessye Norman, soprano
- Joseph P. Riley, Jr., mayor
- Frank Stella, artist
- Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
- John Williams, composer, conductor and pianist
- Oberlin Conservatory of Music
- School of American Ballet
2010
Controversy
In 1997, poet Adrienne Rich refused her award as a protest against “inconsistencies” between art and “the cynical politics” of the Clinton White House administration.[3]
See also
References
External links