White House announces National Arts and Humanities honorees

- September 19, 2016

buzzz worthy. . .

WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday morning, September 22, 2016, President Obama will award the 2015 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to distinguished recipients in the East Room. The First Lady will also attend.

The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities were established by Congress in 1965 as independent agencies of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $5 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. The National Endowment for the Humanities brings the best in humanities research, public programs, education, and preservation projects to the American people. To date, NEH has awarded $5 billion in grants to build the nation’s cultural capital – at museums, libraries, colleges and universities, archives, and historical societies—and to advance our understanding and appreciation of history, literature, philosophy, and language. Both Endowments are celebrating their 50th anniversaries this year.

2015 National Medal of Arts

· Mel Brooks, Actor, Comedian, & Writer (New York, NY)

· Sandra Cisneros, Author (San Antonio, TX)

· Eugene O'Neill Theater Center (Waterford, CT)

· Morgan Freeman, Actor (Charleston, MS)

· Philip Glass, Composer (New York, NY)

· Berry Gordy, Record Producer & Songwriter (Los Angeles, CA)

· Santiago Jiménez, Jr., Musician (San Antonio, TX)

· Moises Kaufman, Director & Playwright (New York, NY)

· Ralph Lemon, Dancer, Choreographer, Writer, & Visual Artist (Brooklyn, NY)

· Audra McDonald, Actress & Singer (Croton-on-Hudson/New York, NY)

· Luis Valdez, Playwright, Actor, Writer, & Director (San Juan Bautista, CA)

· Jack Whitten, Painter (New York, NY)