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."
2021 National Medal of Arts
Judith Francisca Baca
Visual Artist
The Billie Holiday Theatre
Performing Arts Theater
Fred Eychaner
Arts Philanthropist
Jose Feliciano
Singer, Songwriter
The International Association of Blacks in Dance
Arts Association
Mindy Kaling
Writer, Actor, Director
Gladys Knight
Singer, Songwriter
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Actor, Producer
Antonio Martorell-Cardona
Visual Artist, Writer
Joan Shigekawa
Arts Administrator
Bruce Springsteen
Singer, Songwriter
Vera Wang
Fashion Designer
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.Recent National Medal of Arts Podcasts
Sonny Rollins
1983 NEA Jazz Master and 2010 National Medal of Arts recipient
Julia Alvarez
NEA Literature Fellow, Big Read author, 2013 National Medal of Arts recipient
Renée Fleming
Opera Singer and 2012 National Medal of Arts Recipient