WASHINGTON, DC – People For the American Way President Svante Myrick released the following statement congratulating People For the American Way Board Member and Artists For Democracy Co-Chair Carrie Mae Weems, who was awarded the 2024 National Medal of Arts in recognition of her outstanding contributions to our nation’s arts:
“Carrie Mae Weems is a singular force in the art world. Her exceptional work and lifetime of art activism spanning four decades, consistently pushes boundaries and inspires all Americans with themes around politics, gender, and racial identity. As the first African American female visual artist to receive this prestigious award, she is widening the path for future generations of women artists, and we congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition.
“We are also deeply proud of Carrie Mae’s leadership this year as a co-chair of People For the American Way’s Artists for Democracy program, which harnesses the transformative power of art for political awareness and to get out the vote in the 2024 election. She is an invaluable contributor to our mission of upholding and advancing democracy.”
The National Medal of Arts is bestowed by the White House “to individuals or groups who are deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in the United States.” Those receiving the honor with Weems includes filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee and Ken Burns, singers Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, actress Eva Longoria, producer Bruce Cohen, photographers Randy A. Batista and Clyde Butcher and artists Alex Katz and Mark Bradford, arts leaders Jo Carole Lauder and Bruce Sagan.
About Us People For the American Way is a national progressive advocacy organization that inspires and mobilizes Americans to defend freedom, justice, and democracy from those who threaten to take them away. For more than four decades, we have been dedicated to making the promise of America real for everyone and have worked toward a vision of a vibrant America where basic rights and freedoms are upheld for all, not just the wealthy and the powerful. Learn more: http://www.peoplefor.org
