Ford’s Theatre also received the Volk Lincoln Honor from the Lincoln Forum in honor of itscontributions to the Lincoln legacy. Tetreault accepted the award on behalf of Ford’s Theatre at theLincoln Forum Symposium on November 17.
National Medal of Arts
During the past 23 years, more than 200 extraordinary patrons and artists in the fields of visual,performing and literary arts have been honored. With this medal, the President recognizes the wealth anddepth of creative expression of America's artists. Annually a vast number of nominations are submittedfrom citizens across the country for consideration by the National Council on the Arts.This lifetime achievement award recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of individuals engaged inthe creation and production of the arts in the United States. The arts encompass arts education, crafts,dance, drawing, film, graphic/product design, interior design, landscape architecture, literature, classicaland popular music, painting, patrons/advocates, photography, presenting, printmaking, sculpture, theater,urban design.The 2008 recipients are Ford’s Theatre Society, theater and museum, Washington, D.C.; Olivia deHavilland, actress, Paris, France; Fisk Jubilee Singers, choral ensemble, Nashville, TN; Hank Jones, jazzmusician, NEA Jazz Master (1989), New York, NY; Stan Lee, comic book writer, producer, Los Angeles,CA; José Limón Dance Foundation, modern dance company and institute, New York, NY; Jesús Moroles,sculptor, Rockport, TX; The Presser Foundation, music patron, Haverford, PA; and The ShermanBrothers, songwriting team, Los Angeles, CA and London, England.
The Lincoln Forum
The Lincoln Forum is an assembly of people who share a deep interest in the life and times of AbrahamLincoln and the Civil War era. Through a roster of activities and projects including symposia, tours,student essay competitions, a newsletter and an annual award to recognize special contributions to thefield of Lincoln studies, the Forum endeavors to enhance the understanding and preserve the memory of Abraham Lincoln.
Ford’s Theatre Society
Since it reopened its doors in 1968, more than a hundred years after the April 14, 1865, assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Ford’s Theatre has been one of the most visited sites in the nation’s capital.Ford’s Theatre has enthralled visitors because of its unique place in United States history, and its missionto celebrate the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and explore the American experience through theatre andeducation.Ford’s Theatre Society works to present the Theatre’s nearly one million visitors each year with a highquality historic and cultural experience, enhancing the vibrancy of this historic site, an important tool forpromoting the ideals of leadership, humanity and wisdom espoused by Abraham Lincoln.Since the arrival of Paul R. Tetreault as Director, Ford’s Theatre has been recognized by the critics andtheatergoing public for the superior quality of its artistic programming. With works from the nationallyacclaimed
Big River
to the regional premiere of
Trying
and world premiere of
Meet John Doe
, Ford’sTheatre has undoubtedly begun to make its mark on the American theatre landscape.In addition, through the leadership of Wayne R. Reynolds, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, themission of Ford’s Theatre has recently been expanded to include education as a central pillar of theorganization, equal to that of producing theatre of the highest quality. As Ford’s Theatre looks to thefuture, the health of the organization will be defined and determined not only by the quality of theproductions on the stage but also by the success of its educational programming in teaching about the life,Presidency and lessons of leadership of Abraham Lincoln.As part of this expanded mission, Ford's Theatre is undergoing the most extensive renovation project totake place since the building reopened to the public in 1968:
The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
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