Xlibris Publishing sharing the news. On September 22nd, 2016, President Obama awarded the 2015 National Medals of Arts and National Humanities Medals to a selection of artists and art patrons from across genres and industries. A few of this year’s awardees include Mel Brooks, Morgan Freeman, and Terry Gross. The award and the celebration itself are intended to extol artistic achievement and support of the humanities throughout the United States of America. Many of this year’s awardees are known for their contributions and success in multiple different genres and mediums, including individuals known for both producing music and speaking with musicians, and individuals known cutting a rug on the dance-floor as well as cooking up delicious cuisine in the kitchen.
The National Medal of Arts was founded in 1984, by the US Congress, as an award and title for the honoring of artists and patrons of the arts. One of the most prestigious of American honors in the fields of the arts, the National Medal of Arts is awarded to the individual on behalf of the American people. The National Humanities Medal, originally the Charles Frankel Prize in the Humanities, goes back to 1988 as an award those whose contributions have furthered citizen’s interest, practice, support of the humanities.
Mel Brooks was recognized for the joy and laughter he has brought to the people of the world. As a writer, actor, director, musician, and a pioneer of film comedy, Mel Brooks has produced hilarious yet thoughtful works in the fields of theater and film. Said works have earned him Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy awards. Morgan Freeman, an outstanding actor, director, and narrator, was recognized for performances and contributions that have captured the spectrum of life experiences in ways both iconic in dignity and powerful in emotion. Elaine Pagels was awarded for her pioneering work in the fields of faith and its traditions. In the study of ancient manuscripts as well as additional scholarly practices, Elaine Pagels has shed new light and inspired new discussions onto humanity’s search for knowledge and meaning.
These three are but a handful of luminaries recognized with nationals medals, by the president of the United States for their contributions in the fields of the arts and the humanities.
To read the original NPR article and the list of awardees in full, please go here.
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