Biden Awards National Medals of Arts and Humanities

President Joe Biden awarded the 2022 and 2023 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal at the White House, honoring a diverse group of 20 individuals for their contributions to the arts and humanities. Notable recipients include filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Spike Lee, musicians Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah, and the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, who was honored posthumously. The National Medals of Arts recognize outstanding contributions to the arts in the U.S., while the National Humanities Medals celebrate work that enhances the understanding of the human experience. Other notable winners include playwright Aaron Sorkin and historian Jon Meacham, with three awards given posthumously, including to chef Anthony Bourdain. The honors, which have been awarded since 1985, are administered by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Biden emphasized the importance of these individuals in enriching American culture during the ceremony.