**President Biden to Award 2022 and 2023 National Medals of Arts**

In Washington, DC, President Joseph R. Biden is set to honor exceptional contributors to the arts with the presentation of the National Medals of Arts for 2022 and 2023. This prestigious event will take place at the White House on Monday, October 21, 2024, in an exclusive ceremony. Following the presentation, a reception is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET, where remarks will be delivered by President Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Chair Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo). The entire address will be live-streamed on www.whitehouse.gov/live.

Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, Chair of the NEA, emphasized the significant role that the arts play in enriching lives and fostering community. In her statement, she noted, "The arts enrich our lives, helping us to ask questions, imagine new possibilities, and create community. The NEA is pleased to join President Biden in congratulating the 2022 and 2023 National Medal of Arts recipients whose curiosity, creativity, hard work, and dedication have inspired and touched so many in our country and around the globe."

The National Medal of Arts represents the highest accolade granted to artists and arts patrons by the federal government. It is awarded by the president to individuals or groups who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement and availability of the arts in the United States, recognizing their dedication to artistic excellence, growth, and support.

Details about the recipients of the National Medal of Arts for 2022 will be announced during the ceremony, highlighting the remarkable achievements of these distinguished individuals and groups in the arts community.

This celebration underscores the importance of the arts in American society and acknowledges the extraordinary impact that artists have in shaping culture and fostering creativity.