President Biden to Present National Medals of Arts and Humanities
Source: Anna Moneymaker / Getty
President Joe Biden is set to honor a group of artists, creators, and cultural leaders in a private ceremony today.
The event will recognize 2022 and 2023 honorees of the National Medals of Arts and Humanities, which takes place this afternoon in the White House’s “East Room”. The last ceremony took place in March of 2023.
The 2023 honorees include filmmaker Steven Spielberg, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, visionary director Spike Lee, and the late Selena Quintanilla.
The 2022 recipients include actress and activist Eva Longoria, the late artist Ruth Asawa, photographer Randy A. Batista, and visual artist Carrie Mae Weems.
The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the U.S. government. According to the White House, the National Medals “honor exemplary individuals and organizations that have advanced the arts in America and offered inspiration to others through their distinguished achievement, support, or patronage.”
The National Humanities Medal— which recognizes contributions to history, literature, and culture— will also be presented during today’s ceremony. The 2023 humanities honorees include the late Anthony Bourdain, beloved TV and literacy icon LeVar Burton, and environmentalist Robin Wall Kimmerer. The 2022 recipients include poet Joy Harjo, historian Jon Meacham, and author Juan Felipe Herrera.
The National Medal of Arts was created by Congress in 1984 and first awarded in 1985.
While the ceremony is closed to the public, you can livestream the reception and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s remarks here.
Read more about the upcoming inductees and past recipients here.
