National Medal of Arts to honour George Lucas, Herb Alpert, Elaine May and more

July 10 is a big day for artists in Hollywood as President Obama will give away the National Medal of Arts in White House ceremonies. Herb Alpert, producer-director George Lucas, Elaine May and screenwriter Tony Kushner are amongst those who will be honoured for their contribution in American cinema.

The White House will read the following statement for Lucas, “By combining the art of storytelling with boundless imagination and cutting-edge techniques, Mr. Lucas has transported us to new worlds and created some of the most beloved and iconic films of all time.” Philanthropist Herb Alpert will be honoured for his contributions to music and fine arts. He is also known as the founder of A&M Records and Tijuana Brass.

Kushner is an honoree for his inputs to theatre as well as to films, “Whether for the stage or the silver screen, his scripts have moved audiences worldwide, marrying humor to fury, history to fantasy and the philosophical to the personal,” announced the White House. Elaine, comedian, will be honoured with citation, “With groundbreaking wit and a keen understanding of how humor can illuminate our lives, May has evoked untold joy, challenged expectations, and elevated spirits across our nation.” Others in the list include Lin Arison, dancer Joan Myers Brown, opera singer RenéeFleming, Ernest Gaines, painter and sculptor Ellsworth Kelly, producer Allen Toussaint and many more.