The medals are given to individuals or groups in recognition of their contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the United States.
"Whether its animation or architecture, writing or music, these artists' creativity and passion have made an enormous impact on our nation. I join the President in congratulating them and celebrating the arts in our country," NEA chairman Jane Chu said in a previous statement.
The official citations for the 2013 National Medal of Arts recipients are:
Julia Alvarez, novelist, poet, and essayist
Brooklyn Academy of Music, presenter
Joan Harris, arts patron
Bill T. Jones, dancer and choreographer
John Kander, musical theater composer (Cabaret, The Scottsboro Boys)
Jeffrey Katzenberg, director and CEO of DreamWorks
Maxine Hong Kingston, writer
Albert Maysles, documentary filmmaker
Linda Ronstadt, musician
James Turrell, visual artist
The 2013 National Humanities Medals are presented at the same ceremony. The event is available for live streaming at WH.gov/Live.
The National Endowment for the Arts manages the nomination process on behalf of the White House. Each year, the Arts Endowment seeks nominations from individuals and organizations across the country. Visit arts.gov for more information.