NEW YORK, February 20, 2018—When the American Academy of Arts and Letters holds its annual induction and award ceremony in mid-May, Lorrie Moore, secretary, will induct twelve members into the 250-person organization and president Billie Tsien will induct three foreign honorary members and one American honorary member. Paula Kerger, president and CEO of the Public Broadcasting Service, will deliver the Blashfield Foundation Address, titled “The Ideal of Excellence,” marking the 50th anniversary of the Public Broadcasting Act. An exhibition of art, architecture, books, and manuscripts by new members and recipients of awards will be on view in the galleries from May 24 to June 17.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS

The American Academy of Arts and Letters was founded in 1898 as an honor society of the country’s leading architects, artists, composers, and writers. Early members include William Merritt Chase, Childe Hassam, Julia Ward Howe, Henry James, Edward MacDowell, Theodore Roosevelt, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, John Singer Sargent, and Edith Wharton. The Academy’s 250 members are elected for life and pay no dues.

In addition to electing new members as vacancies occur, the Academy seeks to foster and sustain an interest in Literature, Music, and the Fine Arts by administering over 70 awards and prizes, exhibiting art and manuscripts, funding performances of new works of musical theater, and purchasing artwork for donation to museums across the country.

Photo credits:
Ron Chernow ̶ photograph by Nina Subin
Jenny Holzer ̶ photograph by Nanda Lanfranco
Ben Johnston ̶ photograph by Jon Roy
George Lewis ̶ photograph by Eileen Barroso
Lynn Nottage ̶ photograph by Andrew Eccles
Maxine Hong Kingston ̶ photograph by Michael Lionstar