President Biden awards National Medals of Arts

Washington, D.C – President Joseph R. Biden will present the 2022 and 2023 National Medals of Arts, in conjunction with the National Humanities Medals, in a private ceremony at the White House on Monday, October 21, 2024. A reception will follow at 5:30 p.m. ET with remarks from President Biden, First Lady Dr. Navajo). Remarks will be streamed live at www.whitehouse.gov/live.

Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), said, “The arts enrich our lives and help us ask questions, imagine new possibilities, and create community.” The NEA is pleased to partner with “President Biden congratulates the 2022 and 2023 National Medal of Arts recipients whose curiosity, creativity, hard work and dedication have inspired and touched so many across our country and around the world.”

The National Medal of Arts is the highest honor given by the federal government to artists and arts patrons. The award is presented by the President of the United States to individuals or groups deserving special recognition for their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the United States.

2022 National Medal of Arts Recipients:

• Ruth Asawa (posthumous), artist
• Randy A. Batista, photographer
• Clyde Butcher, landscape photographer
• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, museum and educational center
• Melissa “Missy” Elliott, artist and producer
• Leonardo “Flaco” Jimenez, musician
• Eva Longoria, actress, director and philanthropist
• Idina Menzel, actress and singer
• Herbert I. Ohta, musician
• Bruce Sagan, art guide
• Carrie Mae Weems, visual artist

2023 National Medal of Arts Recipients:

• Mark Bradford, artist
• Ken Burns, documentary filmmaker
• Bruce Cohen, producer
• Alex Katz, artist
• Jo Carole Lauder, art director
• Spike Lee, filmmaker
• Queen Latifah, artist and actress
• Selena Quintanilla (posthumous), singer
• Steven Spielberg, filmmaker

The 2022 and 2023 National Humanities Medals will be awarded at the same ceremony. Recipients include Roz Chast, Joy Harjo, Juan Felipe Herrera and the Appalshop organization.

The National Endowment for the Arts manages the nomination process on behalf of the White House. Each year, the NEA seeks nominations from individuals and organizations across the country. The National Council on the Arts, the NEA's presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed advisory body, reviews nominations and makes recommendations to the president, who selects recipients. Further information and the list of previous recipients can be found on the NEA website.

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