National Heritage Fellowships
The NEA National Heritage Fellowships is the nation's highest honor in folk and traditional arts. Each year since 1982, the program recognizes recipients' artistic excellence, lifetime achievement, and contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage. See below for information on how to submit a nomination.
The deadline to submit a nomination for the 2025 class of NEA National Heritage Fellows is Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
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In May 2024, the NEA premiered a series of tribute films celebrating the lives and work of the nine gifted individuals awarded the 2023 NEA National Heritage Fellowship. Beautifully crafted vignettes take viewers on a journey of discovery into the lives and communities of these artists and provide a glimpse into the history of their art forms and how each fellow contributes to the development and continuation of long-held traditions. Read the full announcement.
Watch the individual films on YouTube
Profiles of the 2023 NEA National Heritage Fellows
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“I am honored to announce the ten gifted recipients that have been named 2024 NEA National Heritage Fellows. Through their dedication to and generous stewardship of their traditions and cultures, these artists and culture bearers carry forward their knowledge and passion to future generations. They offer us the opportunity to see things from different perspectives, help us make sense of the world, and celebrate our rich collective heritage comprised of our diverse lived experiences.”
— NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD
