Theater News

Tony Kushner and Others to be Awarded 2012 National Medal of Arts by President Obama

Other individuals receiving the award include soprano Renée Fleming, actress/director Elaine May, and many more.

Tony Kushner
Tony Kushner
(© Tristan Fuge)

President Barack Obama will present the National Medal of Arts on July 10 in conjunction with the National Humanities Medals. The awards will be presented during an East Room ceremony at the White House.

The recipients of the 2012 National Medal of the Arts, which is the nation’s highest honor for artistic excellence, are Angels in America playwright Tony Kushner, musician and producer Herb Alpert, arts patron Lin Arison, dance instructor Joan Myers Brown, soprano Renée Fleming, author Ernest Gaines, visual artist Ellsworth Kelly, director and producer George Lucas, writer/director/performer Elaine May, landscape artist Laurie Olin, musician and producer Allen Toussaint, and presenting organization Washington Performing Arts Society.

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to join the President in honoring and celebrating the American arts community,” said NEA Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa in a statement.

This event will be live streamed at WH.gov/live.