Arts and Letters

On Wednesday, May 22, 2019, the Academy held its annual Ceremonial in its auditorium in Washington Heights, New York City. $1.2 million in awards and prizes in Architecture, Visual Arts, Literature, and Music were presented to 73 recipients, and 16 new members were inducted. David Del Tredici delivered the keynote address; Thelma Golden received the Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts; Lydia Millet received the Award of Merit Medal for the Short Story; and Lee Bontecou and Toni Morrison received Gold Medals.