Prominent artists receive top honors at a private ceremony at the White House.
Great honor for some artists: On Monday, October 21st, US President Joe Biden (81) will award the National Humanities Medals in a private ceremony in the White House.
Among the award winners are the directors Steven Spielberg (77), Spike Lee (67) and Ken Burns (71) as well as the singers Missy Elliott (53) and Queen Latifah (54). A total of 20 artists will be honored for their work.
The actresses Idina Menzel (53) and Eva Longoria (49) can also look forward to an art medal. Other award winners include producer Bruce Cohen (63) and musicians Leonardo “Flaco” Jimenez (85) and Herb Ohta. The photographer Clyde Butcher (82) as well as the media artist Carrie Mae Weems (71) and the painter Alex Katz (97) also receive an art medal.
Medals for Humanities
There are also 19 recipients of the National Humanities Medal, including screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (63). The Humanities Medals honor individuals or organizations “whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the human experience, broadened citizens’ engagement with history or literature, or helped preserve and expand Americans’ access to cultural resources .” This year, poet Joy Harjo (73), actor LeVar Burton (67) and cartoonist Roz Chast (69) will also receive this honor.
Three of the medals will be awarded posthumously: to singer Selena Quintanilla, artist Ruth Asawa and chef and author Anthony Bourdain.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
