Honors
On behalf of the American people, the federal government recognizes outstanding achievement in the arts through the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowships; National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowships; and National Medal of Arts, a presidential award.
Honorific Awards
NEA Jazz Masters
Begun in 1982, the nation's highest honor in jazz.
National Heritage Fellowships
Begun in 1982, the nation's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.
National Medal of Arts
Begun in 1985, the nation's highest award given to artists and arts patrons.
FEATURE
On Thursday, August 20, 2020, the National Endowment for the Arts, in collaboration with SFJAZZ, honored the 2020 NEA Jazz Masters—Dorthaan Kirk (A.B. Spellman Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy), Bobby McFerrin, Roscoe Mitchell, and Reggie Workman—in a virtual tribute concert. Check out the archived concert.
Watch the show!