Several medals laid out on a table.

National Heritage Fellowships

The NEA National Heritage Fellowships is the nation's highest honor in folk and traditional arts. Each year since 1982, the program recognizes recipients' artistic excellence, lifetime achievement, and contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage. See below for information on how to submit a nomination.

 

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2024 NEA National Heritage Fellowships Events:

This September in Washington, DC, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) held free events to celebrate ten extraordinary artists who shape America’s cultural heritage—the 2024 NEA National Heritage Fellows. You can now watch the on-demand videos of the public events webcasts. 

The NEA National Heritage Fellowships Awards Ceremony - September 18, 2024.

NEA National Heritage Fellowships Film Screening and Conversations - September 17, 2024.

Program booklet.

Looking Back

In May 2024, the NEA premiered a series of tribute films celebrating the lives and work of the nine gifted individuals awarded the 2023 NEA National Heritage Fellowship. Beautifully crafted vignettes take viewers on a journey of discovery into the lives and communities of these artists and provide a glimpse into the history of their art forms and how each fellow contributes to the development and continuation of long-held traditions. Watch the 2023 individual films and films from past years.
 

     2022 Film | 2021 Film |  2020 Film |  2019 Concert  
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Nominate a National Heritage Fellow!

The National Endowment for the Arts encourages nominations of master folk and traditional artists to recognize artistic excellence, lifetime achievement, and contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage.
Make a Nomination