05/06/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/07/2024 08:46
Photos by Hypothetical
Washington, DC- Today, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) premiered a series of tribute films celebrating the lives and work of the nine gifted individuals awarded the 2023 NEA National Heritage Fellowship, the nation's highest honor in folk and traditional arts. Beautifully crafted vignettes take viewers on a journey of discovery into the lives and communities of these artists and provide a glimpse into the history of their art forms and how each fellow contributes to the development and continuation of long-held traditions. Tribute films are now available for viewing and sharing on the NEA's YouTube channel and arts.gov/heritage.
"Our nation is strengthened through the meaningful practices and expressions of traditional artistry of the 2023 National Heritage Fellows," said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. "These stunning tribute videos help to share their stories-America's rich and diverse stories-with audiences around the country and the world. Each fellow embodies a spirit of dedication and generosity that contributes to our nation's living cultural heritage and gives hope to future generations in ways that only the arts can."
Each of the vignettes provide a unique insight into the National Heritage Fellows:
Fellowship recipients are nominated by the public, often by members of their own communities, and then judged by a panel of experts in the folk and traditional arts. The panel's recommendations are reviewed by the National Council on the Arts, which sends its recommendations to the NEA chair, who makes the final decision. The 2024 NEA National Heritage Fellows were announced earlier this year-read about them on the NEA's website. The deadline to submit a nomination for the 2025 class of NEA National Heritage Fellows is Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Visit the National Endowment for the Arts website for more information and to submit a nomination.
###
About the National Heritage Fellowships
The National Heritage Fellowships are the nation's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. Since 1982, the NEA has awarded nearly 500 National Heritage Fellowships recognizing artists working in more than 200 distinct art forms, including bluegrass fiddler Michael Cleveland, Japanese classical dancer Gertrude Yukie Tsutsumi, Haudenosaunee raised beadworker Karen Ann Hoffman (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin), oud player and composer Rahim AlHaj, and radio producer and radio network builder Hugo N. Morales. Each annual fellowship includes a $25,000 award. More information about the National Heritage Fellows is available on the NEA website.
About the National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support give Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America's rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. To learn more, visit arts.gov or follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.