press room
For Immediate Release
09/19/2007Contact:
Beth Olsen, Goodman Media
212.576.2700 ext. 243
bolsen@goodmanmedia.com
Americans for the Arts Announces 2007 National Arts Awards
Washington, DC, September 17, 2007 — Americans for the Arts will present its annual National Arts Awards on Monday, October 15 in New York City as part of National Arts and Humanities Month. The awards recognize those artists and arts supporters who exhibit exemplary national leadership and whose work demonstrates extraordinary artistic achievement. They are organizations and individuals—artists, business leaders, and patrons—who understand that the arts enrich people and communities alike.
Following are this year’s National Arts Awards honorees:
Lifetime Achievement Award — Ellsworth Kelly
Ellsworth Kelly is widely regarded as one of the most important abstract painters, sculptors and printmakers working today.
Young Artist Award for Artistic Excellence — John Legend
John Legend is a five-time Grammy-winner and multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and performer whose albums, Get Lifted and Once Again, have secured his place as one of the most striking, vital, and important American musical artists to emerge in the 21st century.
Frederick R. Weisman Award for Philanthropy in the Arts — Wallis Annenberg
Wallis Annenberg is the vice president and a trustee of the Annenberg Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the United States.
Kitty Carlisle Hart Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts — Anna Deavere Smith
Anna Deavere Smith is an actress, playwright, teacher and author. Her work in the theater has garnered her several awards, among them the prestigious MacArthur Award, two Tony nominations, and two Obies.
Corporate Citizenship in the Arts Award — Music Industry and NAMM
Founded in 1901, NAMM is the nonprofit trade association, made up of more than 9,000 member companies, that unifies, leads, and strengthens the $17 billion international musical instruments and products industry.
Special Recognition in Honor of Its 75th Anniversary — The United States Conference of Mayors
The U.S. Conference of Mayors has long recognized the importance that the arts play in cities. The mayors have also supported increased funding for arts education and have recognized the importance that the nonprofit arts industry plays in the economic vitality of cities.
The honorees will receive their awards at a gala dinner chaired by Maria Bell, member of the Americans for the Arts Board of Directors. Co-chairing the event alongside Ms. Bell are Stephanie and Peter Brant, Edythe and Eli Broad, Danielle and David Ganek, Sheila C. Johnson and William T. Newman, Jr.
Support for the National Arts Awards has come from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Yamaha Corporation of America is the event’s corporate chair, and Ovation TV is the visual media sponsor.
The National Arts Awards have been presented by Americans for the Arts since 1996. Past honorees have included, among others: Edward Albee, Alec Baldwin, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Leonard Bernstein, John Brademas, Chuck Close, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Pierre Dulaine, Aretha Franklin, Frank Gehry, Martha Graham, Agnes Gund, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Helen Hayes, Sheila C. Johnson, Jeff Koons, Jacob Lawrence, Gerald M. Levin, Wynton Marsalis, Natalie Portman, Cindy Sherman, Beverly Sills, David Rockefeller, Isaac Stern, Mena Suvari, Paul Taylor, Uma Thurman, Kerry Washington, and Sanford I. Weill.
Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, DC, and New York City, it has a record of more than 45 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.
