Cliburn honored with National Medal of Arts.

Cliburn honored with National Medal of Arts. Van Cliburn was honored by President Barack Obama with the NationalMedal of Arts at a ceremony at the White House in March. The National Medal of Arts is the highest honor given to artistsand art patrons by the United States Government and acknowledges theextraordinary lifetime achievements of those individuals who have made alasting impact on the country's cultural landscape. The award ispresented by the President to those who have exhibited a commitment tothe excellence, growth and availability of the arts in the UnitedStates. Cliburn is the recipient of more than 20 honorary doctorate degreesfrom universities around the world. He has received the Kennedy CenterHonors and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In July 2003,President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom,the nation's highest civilian award, and in 2004, during a ceremonyat the Kremlin, Cliburn received the Order of Friendship from RussianPresident Vladimir Putin. For more information, visit www.cliburn.org.