National Endowment for theArts

&

National Council on the Arts
2001 National Medal 

of Arts recipient Judith

Jamison, artistic director

of the Alvin Ailey Dance

Foundation (which also

received a National

Medal of Arts in 2001),

surrounded by dance

students who performed

at the Medals ceremony.

Photo by Neshan Naltchayan
The National Medal of Arts is the

highest award given to artists and

arts patrons by the United States

government. These individuals,

through their creativity, inspiration,

and hard work, have significantly

enriched the cultural life of 

our nation.

When the award program began 

in 1984, it was envisioned that 

the National Medal of Arts would

honor the extraordinary

accomplishments of those engaged

in the creation and production 

of the arts in the United States.

Looking at the list of those

honored over the past 20 years,

one can see the breadth of artistic

endeavors in this country. From

writers such as Saul Bellow,

Richard Wilbur, and Ralph 

Ellison to visual artists such as

Georgia O’Keeffe, Romare

Bearden, and Roy Lichtenstein to

musicians Dave Brubeck, Aaron

Copland, and Ray Charles, the

map of American artistic

achievement is clearly drawn.

We at the Arts

Endowment strive 

to support artistic 

excellence in the United States,

and the National Medal of Arts

recipients demonstrate that the arts

are continuing to thrive. Dynamic,

diverse, and original, the arts are 

an essential part of our American

identity and civilization. As

President Reagan stated at the

1987 ceremony, “The arts and

humanities teach us who we are

and what we can be. They lie at 

the very core of the culture of

which we are a part, and they

provide the foundation from which

we may reach out to other cultures

so that the great heritage that is

ours may be enriched by—as well

as itself enrich—other enduring

traditions.”

Dana Gioia

Chairman

National Endowment for the Arts

National Council on the Arts

What is the National Medal of Arts?

Photo by Vance Jacobs
On May 31, 1984, President

Reagan signed legislation 

creating the National Medal of

Arts, authorizing the President to 

award up to 12 medals a year 

to “individuals or groups who in

the President’s judgment 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.”

In 1983, prior to the

official establishment of

the National Medal of

Arts, President Ronald

Reagan presented a medal to the

following artists and patrons at a

White House luncheon arranged

by the President’s Committee on

the Arts and the Humanities:

(artists) Pinchas Zukerman,

Frederica Von Stade, Czeslaw

Milosz, Frank Stella, Philip

Johnson, and Luis Valdez;

(patrons) The Texaco Philanthropic

Foundation, James Michener

(considered a patron for the

award), Philip Morris, Inc., The

Cleveland Foundation, Elma

Lewis, and The Dayton Hudson

Foundation. This was the

beginning step in creating a

Presidential award for those 

who significantly contributed to

the cultural life of our nation.

President Ronald Reagan with

1987 National Medal of Arts

recipient Ella Fitzgerald.

White House photo by 

Mary Anne Fackelman-Miner

Brief History of the National Medal of Arts
The National Council on the Arts,

the advisory board for the National

Endowment for the Arts, is

responsible for recommending

candidates for the medal to the

President. Unlike other arts

awards, the National Medal of Arts

is not limited to a single field or

area of artistic endeavor. It is

designed to honor exemplary

individuals and organizations 

that have encouraged the arts in

America and offered inspiration to

others through their distinguished

achievement, support, or

patronage.

The National Medal of Arts 

was designed by internationally

renowned sculptor Robert Graham,

whose design was chosen by a

special committee of the National

Council on the Arts from among

31 designs submitted in a national

competition. Mr. Graham is known

for creating the Gateway for the

XXIII Olympiad in Los Angeles,

California.

For 20 years, the recipients of the

National Medal of Arts have

touched every aspect of artistic life

in the United States, from the fine

arts to popular culture. The award

has honored not only those whose

vision and creativity provided the

American public with their art

work, but also those whose support

of the arts has been crucial to its

development.

President William J. Clinton and

First Lady Hillary Rodham

Clinton with 1996 Medalist

Edward Albee.

White House photo by Sharon Farmer
Annually, the National

Endowment for the Arts initiates

the selection process for the

National Medal of Arts by

soliciting nominations from the

public. The National Council on

the Arts reviews the nominations

and draws up a list of

recommendations that it submits 

to the President. Typically, the

announcement of the year's

awardees is made by the White

House in the fall.

The period of nomination for the

National Medal of Arts is January

through April 11. To submit a

nomination, please complete a

nomination form, which includes 

a one-page biography of the

nominee’s accomplishments.

Because of difficulties with the

receipt of mail, nominations are

only accepted online at the Arts

Endowment’s Web site:

www.arts.gov. More information

on the nomination process can be

found on the Web site as well.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who is eligible to receive the

National Medal of Arts?

Nominees must be living U.S.

citizens or permanent residents

who have filed for naturalization

and who are not ineligible to

become U.S. citizens. Nominated

organizations must be established

or incorporated in the United

States.

Can I submit more than one

nomination?

Yes, but you must complete

separate nomination forms for each

nominee.

Where do I find detailed information

to submit about my nominee?

If you do not personally know the

nominee (or wish to keep your

nomination a surprise), you may

find information at your local

library in the reference section.

Who’s Who in America and other

biographic reference books are

often good sources of information.

How to Submit Nominations for the National Medal of Arts 
Internet searches may also turn up

good material. Ask your librarian

for other suggestions. Check the

list of previous awardees to ensure

that your nomination has not

already received a National Medal

of Arts.

What information must I submit for

my nomination?

Career highlights, not comprehensive biographies, are requested.

Provide the source of the

information if possible. This award

is bestowed only to U.S. citizens

who have made exceptional

contributions to the arts so the

most competitive nominees will be

familiar to the reviewers. The

purpose of your nomination is to

remind the reviewers that your

nominee should be considered.

The information requested on the

“For All Nominations” section is

the most important; any critical

biographical material must be

provided here. Brochures, books, or

music samples will not be accepted.

National Council on 

the Arts

Members as of January 2005:

Dana Gioia, Chairman

James K. Ballinger, Museum Director

Phoenix, AZ

Donald V. Cogman, Patron/Trustee

Scottsdale, AZ 

Mary Costa, Opera Singer

Knoxville, TN

Katharine Cramer DeWitt,

Patron/Trustee

Cincinnati, OH

Makoto Fujimura, Visual Artist

New York, NY

David H. Gelernter,

Author/Critic/Educator

Woodbridge, CT

Teresa Lozano Long, Patron/Trustee

Austin, TX

James McBride,

Author/Musician/Composer

Carversville, PA

Maribeth Walton McGinley,

Art Director/Designer

Glendale, CA

Jerry Pinkney, Artist/Illustrator

Croton-on-Hudson, NY

Deedie Potter Rose, Patron/Trustee

Dallas, TX

Gerard Schwarz, Symphony Orchestra

Conductor

Seattle, WA

Terry Teachout, Critic/Author

New York, NY

Dr. Karen Lias Wolff, Music Educator

Ann Arbor, MI

Ex-Officio Members,

United States Congress

SENATE

Robert Bennett (R-UT) 

Mike DeWine (R-OH) 

Harry Reid (D-NV)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Betty McCollum (D-MN)

Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) 

one seat vacant
2004

Ray Bradbury, author

Carlisle Floyd, opera composer

Frederick Hart, sculptor

Anthony Hecht, poet

John Ruthven, wildlife artist

Vincent Scully, architectural historian and

educator

Twyla Tharp, contemporary dance

choreographer

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation,

philanthropic foundation

2003

Austin City Limits, PBS television

program

Beverly Cleary,writer

Rafe Esquith, arts educator

Suzanne Farrell, dancer, choreographer,

company director, educator

Buddy Guy, blues musician

Ron Howard, actor, director, writer,

producer

Mormon Tabernacle Choir, choral group

Leonard Slatkin, symphony orchestra

conductor

George Strait, country singer, songwriter

Tommy Tune, dancer, actor,

choreographer, director 

2002

Florence Knoll Bassett, architect

Trisha Brown, artistic director,

choreographer, dancer

Philippe de Montebello, museum director

Uta Hagen, actress, drama teacher

Lawrence Halprin, architect 

Al Hirschfeld, artist, illustrator

George Jones, country music composer,

performer

Ming Cho Lee, theater designer 

William “Smokey” Robinson, songwriter,

musician 

2001

Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, modern

dance company and school 

Rudolfo Anaya, writer 

Johnny Cash,singer, songwriter 

Kirk Douglas, actor, producer 

Helen Frankenthaler, painter 

Judith Jamison, artistic director,

choreographer, dancer 

Yo-Yo Ma, cellist 

Mike Nichols, director, producer 

2000

Maya Angelou, poet, writer

Eddy Arnold, country singer

Mikhail Baryshnikov, dancer, director

Benny Carter, jazz musician

Chuck Close, painter

Horton Foote, playwright, screenwriter

National Public Radio, Cultural

Programming Division, broadcaster

Claes Oldenburg, sculptor

Itzhak Perlman, violinist

Harold Prince, theater director, producer

Barbra Streisand, entertainer, filmmaker 

Lewis Manilow, arts patron

1999

Aretha Franklin, singer

Michael Graves, architect, designer

Odetta, singer, music historian

The Juilliard School, performing arts

school

Norman Lear, producer, writer, director,

advocate

Rosetta LeNoire, actress, producer

Harvey Lichtenstein, arts administrator

Lydia Mendoza, singer

George Segal, sculptor

Maria Tallchief, ballerina

Irene Diamond, arts patron

National Medal of Arts Recipients 

1985-2004
1998

Jacques d’Amboise, dancer, choreographer,

educator

Antoine “Fats” Domino,rock ‘n’ roll

pianist, singer

Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, folk singer,

songwriter

Frank Gehry, architect

Barbara Handman, arts advocate

Agnes Martin, visual artist

Gregory Peck, actor, producer

Roberta Peters, opera singer

Philip Roth,writer

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, arts

organization

Gwen Verdon, actress, dancer

Sara Lee Corporation, corporate 

arts patron

1997

Louise Bourgeois, sculptor

Betty Carter, jazz vocalist

Daniel Urban Kiley, landscape architect

Angela Lansbury, actor

James Levine, opera conductor, pianist

Tito Puente, Latin percussionist, musician

Jason Robards, actor

Edward Villella, dancer, choreographer

Doc Watson, bluegrass guitarist, vocalist

MacDowell Colony, artist colony

Agnes Gund, arts patron

1996

Edward Albee, playwright

Sarah Caldwell, opera conductor

Harry Callahan, photographer

Zelda Fichandler, theater director, founder

Eduardo “Lalo” Guerrero, composer,

musician

Lionel Hampton, musician, bandleader

Bella Lewitzky, dancer, choreographer,

teacher

Robert Redford, actor, director, producer

Maurice Sendak, writer, illustrator,

designer

Stephen Sondheim, composer, lyricist

Boys Choir of Harlem, performing arts

youth group

Vera List, arts patron

1995

Licia Albanese, opera singer

Gwendolyn Brooks, poet

Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, actors

David Diamond, composer

James Ingo Freed, architect

Bob Hope, entertainer

Roy Lichtenstein, painter, sculptor

Arthur Mitchell, dancer, choreographer

William S. Monroe, bluegrass musician

Urban Gateways, arts education

organization

B. Gerald and Iris Cantor, arts patrons

President George W. Bush 

and Mrs. Laura Bush with

2004 Medalist Ray Bradbury

in the Oval Office.

White House photo by Susan Sterner
Earl Scruggs, banjo player

Robert Shaw, orchestra conductor, choral

director

Billy Taylor, jazz pianist

Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown,

architects

Robert Wise, film producer, director

AT&T, corporate arts patron

Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund,

foundation arts patron

1991

Maurice Abravanel, music director,

conductor

Roy Acuff, country singer, bandleader

Pietro Belluschi, architect

J. Carter Brown, museum director

Charles “Honi” Coles, tap dancer

John O. Crosby, opera director, conductor,

administrator

Richard Diebenkorn, painter

Kitty Carlisle Hart, actress, singer, arts

administrator, dancer

Pearl Primus, choreographer,

anthropologist

Isaac Stern, violinist

R. Philip Hanes, Jr., arts patron

Texaco Inc., corporate arts patron

1990

George Francis Abbott, actor, playwright,

producer, director

Hume Cronyn, actor, director

Jessica Tandy, actress

Merce Cunningham, choreographer,

dance company director

Jasper Johns, painter, sculptor

Jacob Lawrence, painter

Riley “B.B.” King, blues musician, singer

Ian McHarg, landscape architect

Beverly Sills, opera singer, director

David Lloyd Kreeger, arts patron

1994

Harry Belafonte, singer, actor

Dave Brubeck, pianist, bandleader,

composer

Celia Cruz, singer

Dorothy DeLay, violin teacher

Julie Harris, actress

Erick Hawkins, dance choreographer

Gene Kelly, dancer, singer, actor

Pete Seeger, composer, lyricist, vocalist,

banjo player

Wayne Thiebaud, artist, teacher

Richard Wilbur, poet, teacher, critic,

literary translator

Young Audiences, arts presenter

Catherine Filene Shouse, arts patron

1993

Cabell “Cab” Calloway,singer, bandleader

Ray Charles, singer, musician

Bess Lomax Hawes, folklorist

Stanley Kunitz, poet, educator

Robert Merrill, baritone

Arthur Miller, playwright

Robert Rauschenberg, artist

Lloyd Richards, theatrical director

William Styron,writer

Paul Taylor, dancer, choreographer

Billy Wilder, movie director, writer,

producer

Walter and Leonore Annenberg, arts

patrons

1992

Marilyn Horne, opera singer

James Earl Jones, actor

Allan Houser, sculptor

Minnie Pearl, Grand Ole Opry performer

Robert Saudek, television producer,

Museum of Broadcasting founding

director

National Medal of Arts Recipients 

1985-2004
Harris & Carroll Sterling Masterson,

arts patrons

Southeastern Bell Corporation, corporate

arts patron

1989

Leopold Adler, preservationist, civic leader

Katherine Dunham, dancer,

choreographer

Alfred Eisenstaedt, photographer

Martin Friedman, museum director

John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie, jazz

trumpeter

Walker Kirtland Hancock, sculptor

Vladimir Horowitz, pianist

Czelaw Milosz, writer

Robert Motherwell, painter

John Updike,writer

Dayton Hudson Corporation, corporate

arts patron

Leigh Gerdine, arts patron

1988

Saul Bellow, writer

Sydney J. Freedberg, art historian, curator

Helen Hayes, actress

Gordon Parks, photographer, film director

I.M. Pei, architect

Jerome Robbins, dancer, choreographer

Rudolf Serkin, pianist

Roger L. Stevens, arts administrator

Virgil Thomson, composer, music critic

(Mrs. Vincent) Brooke Astor, arts patron

Francis Goelet, music patron

Obert C. Tanner, arts patron

1987

Romare Bearden, painter

Ella Fitzgerald, singer

Howard Nemerov, writer, scholar

Alwin Nikolais, dancer, choreographer

Isamu Noguchi, sculptor

William Schuman, composer

Robert Penn Warren, writer, poet

J. W. Fisher, arts patron

Dr. Armand Hammer, arts patron

Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Lewis, arts patrons

1986

Marian Anderson, opera singer

Frank Capra, film director

Aaron Copland, composer

Willem de Kooning, painter

Agnes de Mille, choreographer

Eva Le Gallienne, actress, author

Alan Lomax, folklorist, scholar

Lewis Mumford, philosopher, literary

critic

Eudora Welty, writer

Dominique de Menil, arts patron

Exxon Corporation, corporate arts patron

Seymour H. Knox, arts patron

1985

Elliott Carter, Jr., composer

Ralph Ellison, writer

Jose Ferrer, actor

Martha Graham, dancer, choreographer

Louise Nevelson, sculptress

Georgia O’Keeffe, painter

Leontyne Price, soprano

Dorothy Buffum Chandler, arts patron

Hallmark Cards, Inc., corporate arts

patron

Lincoln Kirstein, arts patron

Paul Mellon, arts patron

Alice Tully, arts patron

NOTE: Recipients are listed alphabetically, artists first and 

then arts patrons.
National Medal of Arts

recipient Yo-Yo Ma

performing with Dr.

Condoleezza Rice at the

2001 Medals ceremony.

Photo by Neshan Naltchayan

A Great Nation Deserves Great Art.