Americans for the Arts to Honor Redford, Dawson & More

Americans for the Arts, the leading organization for advancing the arts in America, announced recipients of the 2009 National Arts Awards to be given out at Cipriani 42nd Street on Monday, October 5.

The annual awards recognize those artists and arts leaders who exhibit exemplary national leadership and whose work demonstrates extraordinary artistic achievement. They are organizations and individuals-artists, business leaders, and patrons-who understand that the arts enrich people and communities alike.

The National Arts Awards represents a unique opportunity for 500 of America's top artists and philanthropic and corporate leaders to come together once a year to recognize and celebrate the achievements of individuals who have exhibited outstanding leadership in the visual and performing arts, arts education, advocacy, and philanthropy.

The event honors:

Robert Redford, Lifetime Achievement Award

Salman Rushdie, Kitty Carlisle Hart Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts

Ed Ruscha, Artistic Excellence Award

Sidney Harman, Frederick R. Weisman Award for Philanthropy in the Arts

Rosario Dawson, Young Artist Award

Anne Finucane, Bank of America, Corporate Citizenship in the Arts Award

For more information, please visit www.AmericansForTheArts.org/events/2009/naa/default.asp.

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, DC, and New York City, it has a record of 49 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.