NEA Announces NEA Opera Honors

For the first time in 25 years, the NEA has created a new lifetime honor: The National Endowment for the Arts Opera Honors will be the highest recognition bestowed on the nation's outstanding opera artists and advocates. NEA Chairman Gioia affirmed, "It is important for America to honor its great artists and their work. This new award category will give the NEA an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of one of this nation's great -- but often neglected -- musical art forms."

The NEA will announce up to seven honorees to receive the inaugural awards at Opera America's annual Opera Conference at the National Performing Arts Convention in June. The honorees, who will receive a one-time $25,000 award, also will be feted at a gala in the nation's capital this fall. Nominated by the public, award recipients may be opera artists or collaborative artistic teams who have made either an extraordinary lifetime contribution to the field or a single, uniquely valuable accomplishment; artists or artistic teams whose work has expanded the nation's opera repertoire; or individuals who have significantly advanced public knowledge and appreciation of the form. For more information on the NEA Opera Honors, please visit www.arts.gov/honors/opera/index.html.

National Endowment for the Arts · an independent federal agency
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20506