President Biden to Present National Medals of Arts at the White House

On March 21, 2023, President Joe Biden will present the 2021 National Medals of Arts along with the National Humanities Medals in a ceremony held at the White House's East Room. The event will be attended by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and will be live-streamed at the official website of the White House. The National Medals of Arts is considered the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the federal government, awarded to individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to the growth, excellence, support, and availability of the arts in the United States.

Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, expressed her congratulations and thanks to the National Medal of Arts recipients, recognizing their lifelong passion and commitment that helped define and enrich the cultural legacy of the country. She emphasized that the recipients' contributions inspired people to recognize their common humanity, see the world in different ways, and reach their full potential.

The NEA manages the nomination process on behalf of the White House. The agency requests nominations from individuals and organizations across the country annually. The National Council on the Arts, the NEA’s presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed advisory body, reviews the nominations and provides recommendations to the President, who selects the recipients.

The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that was created by Congress in 1965. It is the largest funder of arts and arts education in communities nationwide and serves as a catalyst for public and private support for the arts. The NEA's mission is to foster and sustain an environment that promotes equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, ensuring that the arts benefit everyone in the United States