Every year, Americans for the Arts recognizes artists and arts leaders who exhibit exemplary national leadership and whose work demonstrates extraordinary artistic achievement with the National Arts Awards. This year's recipients are:
 

• Dakota Fanning - Bell Family Foundation Young Artist Award
• B.B. King - Isabella and Theodor Dalenson Lifetime Achievement Award
• John and Mary Pappajohn -€“ Eli & Edythe Broad Award for Philanthropy in the Arts
• Joel Shapiro - Outstanding Contributions to the Arts Award
• Alberto Carvalho -€“ Arts Education Award

Grammy Award-winning blues musician and National Medal of Arts honoree Buddy Guy, Glenn Lowry, director of the Museum of Modern Art, New York City, philanthropist Eli Broad, and Jeff Fleming, director of the Des Moines Art Center will be among the award presenters.

Americans for the Arts' Artists Committee member, former National Arts Awards honoree for Artistic Achievement, and international art world figure Jeff Koons, designed the award itself - a balloon bunny - in 2009 specifically for the annual event.

Our press release announcing this year's award recipients further details the awardees' artistic achievements. The awards will be presented on October 21 at a benefit in New York City.