2009 National Arts Awards Announced

Americans for the Arts, the organization that coordinates National Arts and Humanities Month this month, has announced the winners of its 2009 National Arts Awards. According to the Foundation Center, "the awards recognize artists whose work demonstrates extraordinary artistic achievement and individuals who exhibit exemplary national leadership in the arts."

So who are these exemplary artistic leaders? There were a variety of awards to sweep up, so the winners are a varied lot.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to actor and filmmaker Robert Redford.The Artistic Excellence Award was awarded to American pop-artist Ed Ruscha. The Kitty Carlisle Hart Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts went to Salman Rushdie, author of "Midnight's Children" and "The Satanic Verses," among many others.The Frederick R. Weisman Award for Philanthropy in the Arts was awarded to businessman and philanthropist Sidney Harman, whose name graces, among other things, the lovely new theater of the Shakespeare Theater Company. The Corporate Citizenship in the Arts Award went to Anne Finucane, global chief strategy and marketing officer with the Bank of America.

Americans for the Arts describes itself as "the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America." Having dedicated itself to helping all Americans participate in and appreciate the artistic and creative sides of their communities for almost half a century, the organization is an important part of our nation's cultural fabric.

 

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