National Medal of Arts | National Endowment for the Arts

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

Tall bald Black man wearing glasses with a medal around his neck surrounded by older man wearing a blue suit and woman with blonde hair wearing a pink suit.

Man with short dark hair and gray beard wearing a sweater and dress shirt posing for portrait.

Documentary Filmmaker

Man in blue velvet jacket wearing a medal around his neck surrounded by older man wearing a blue suit and woman with blonde hair wearing a pink suit.

Older bald man in light blue suit wearing a medal around his neck surrounded by older man wearing a blue suit and woman with blonde hair wearing a pink suit.

Woman with long brown hair in white shirt wearing a medal around her neck surrounded by older man wearing a blue suit and woman with blonde hair wearing a pink suit.

Jo Carole Lauder

Black man with glasses and New York Yankees cap in a gold and blue checkered suit wearing a medal around his neck surrounded by older man wearing a blue suit and woman with blonde hair wearing a pink suit.

Black woman in blue jacket wearing a medal around her neck surrounded by older man wearing a blue suit and woman with blonde hair wearing a pink suit.

Artist and Actress

Young woman with long dark hair tilting her head in a portrait.

Selena Quintanilla

Man with glasses and gray hair and beard in gray suit wearing a medal around his neck surrounded by older man wearing a blue suit and woman with blonde hair wearing a pink suit.

Steven Spielberg

Nominate an Individual or Organization for a National Medal of Arts

The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists, arts patrons, and arts organizations by the United States government.

Make a Nomination

1983 NEA Jazz Master and 2010 National Medal of Arts recipient

NEA Literature Fellow, Big Read author, 2013 National Medal of Arts recipient

Portrait of woman.

Opera Singer and 2012 National Medal of Arts Recipient

Portrait of Quincy Jones

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of NEA Jazz Master and National Medal of Arts Recipient Quincy Jones

National Medal of the Arts w/ purple ribbon

President Biden to Award National Medals of Arts

National Medal of the Arts w/ purple ribbon

President Biden to Award National Medals of Arts