NEA National Heritage Fellowships Ceremony Will Honor Folk and Traditional Artists
(Top-Bottom, Left-Right): Carmen Baron, photo by John Baron; Peniel Guerrier, photo courtesy of Peniel Guerrier; Adrienne Reiko Iwanaga, photo credit lwanaga Family; Ernie Marsh, photo by Teresa Marsh; Edward Poullard, photo by Mark Marcin; Steve Tamayo Ancestral Voices Mural, South Omaha, Nebraska, Photo by Ryan Soderlin for the Flatwater Free Press; Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America, photo by Stefan Iwaskewycz
WHAT: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will honor the 2025 NEA National Heritage Fellows, recipients of the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts, at an award ceremony in Washington, DC. The event will include remarks by NEA Senior Advisor Mary Anne Carter, members of Congress, and the honorees, as well as performances by and in honor of the recipients. The ceremony will be livestreamed at arts.gov/heritage.
The 2025 NEA National Heritage Fellows are:
- Carmen Baron, Mexican Folk Costume Maker and Dancer (Tucson, Arizona)
- Peniel Guerrier, Haitian Dancer, Drummer, and Educator (Astoria, New York)
- Adrienne Reiko Iwanaga, Bon Odori Dancer, Teacher, and Choreographer (Saratoga, California)
- Ernie Marsh, Bit & Spur Maker and Silversmith (Lovell, Wyoming)
- Edward Poullard, Creole Musician (Beaumont, Texas)
- Steven Tamayo (Sicangu Lakota), Traditional Lakota Artist & Educator (Omaha, Nebraska)
- Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America, Men’s Choral & Bandura Ensemble (Detroit, Michigan)
WHEN: Wednesday, September 17, 2025, beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET
WHERE: This event is hosted by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. It will be livestreamed on arts.gov/heritage and available to watch on demand following the event.
About the NEA National Heritage Fellowships
The NEA National Heritage Fellowships recognize individuals and groups for their artistic excellence, lifetime achievement, and contributions to our nation’s traditional arts heritage. Recipients are nominated by the public—often by members of their own communities—and then judged by a panel of experts in the folk and traditional arts. The panel’s recommendations are reviewed by the National Council on the Arts, which sends its recommendations to the NEA chair.
About the National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. To learn more, visit arts.gov
