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2004 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows to be Honored in Capitol Hill Ceremony and Concert
at George Washington University

Twelve Artists Receive Nation's Highest Honor in the Folk and Traditional Arts

September 22, 2004

 

Contact:
Victoria Hutter
202-682-5570
 

Washington, D.C. - National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia and Members of Congress will present the 2004 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowships in a Capitol Hill ceremony on Thursday, September 30 at 10:00 a.m. in the Cannon Caucus Room (Room 345) in the Cannon House Office Building located at 1st Street and Independence Ave.

Ten fellowships representing the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts will be presented to 12 artists from ten states. These awardees were chosen for their artistic excellence and contributions to cultural heritage. The fellowship includes a one-time award of $20,000. Photographs of the Capitol Hill ceremony will be available shortly after the event and can be emailed upon request.

The following evening, Friday October 1 at 7:30 p.m, the fellows will perform at Lisner Auditorium on the campus of George Washington University, 21st and H St. Special Guest Host Sam Donaldson of ABC News will join Master of Ceremonies Nick Spitzer, Host of PRI's "American Routes" for this exciting evening of performances and artist interviews. Free tickets are available from the National Council for the Traditional Arts at 301-565-0654.

2004 NEA National Heritage Fellowship Recipients

Anjani Ambegaokar, North Indian Kathak dancer (Diamond Bar, CA)
Charles "Chuck" T. Campbell, sacred steel guitar player (Rochester, NY)
Joe Derrane, Irish-American button accordionist (Randolph, MA)
Jerry Douglas, Dobro player (Nashville, TN)
Gerald "Subiyay" Miller, Skokomish oral tradition bearer, carver, basket maker (Shelton, WA)
Milan Opacich, Tamburitza instrument maker (Shererville, IN)
Eliseo and Paula Rodriguez, straw appliqué artists (Santa Fe, NM)
Koko Taylor, Blues musician (Country Club Hills, IL)
Yuqin Wang and Zhengli Xu, Chinese rod puppeteers (Aloha, OR)

2004 Bess Lomax Hawes Award
Chum Ngek, Cambodian musician and teacher (Gaithersburg, MD)

The NEA National Heritage events are supported by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.

Please see a listing of all Heritage recipients.

National Heritage Fellowships Nomination Information


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