2017 National Heritage Fellows Announcement  2017 NEA National Heritage Fellows Across the United States there are traditional art forms that shape our culture and make our communities distinct, whether it's conjunto music in Texas, old-time buckdancing in Tennessee, or Chilkat weaving in Alaska. For the past 35 years, the National Endowment for the Arts has presented National Heritage Fellowships to celebrate and honor master artists working in the folk and traditional arts. Today the NEA is announcing the nine 2017 National Heritage Fellowship recipients, who will each receive $25,000 and be honored in Washington, DC, this September. "The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to honor these individuals for artistic mastery, as well as a commitment to sharing their traditions," said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. "Our nation is a richer, more vibrant place because of these artists and the art forms they practice." The 2017 NEA National Heritage Fellows are: Norik Astvatsaturov (ND) - Armenian Repoussé Metal Artist Anna Brown Ehlers (AK) - Chilkat Weaver Modesto Cepeda (PR) - Bomba and Plena Musician Ella Jenkins (IL) Children's Folk Singer and Musician Dwight Lamb* (IA) - Danish Button Accordionist and Missouri-Style Fiddler Thomas Maupin (TN) - Old-time Buckdancer Cyril Pahinui (HI) - Hawaiian Slack Key Guitarist Phil Wiggins (MD) - Acoustic Blues Harmonica Player Eva Ybarra (TX) - Conjunto Accordionist and Bandleader *Dwight Lamb is the recipient of the 2017 Bess Lomax Hawes NEA National Heritage Fellowship in recognition of an individual who has made a significant contribution to the preservation and awareness of cultural heritage. Profiles of the Heritage Fellows, including classes 1982 - 2017, are available on the NEA's website, along with photos and audio samples of their work. 2017 Heritage Fellowships Events in D.C. The NEA will celebrate the 2017 National Heritage Fellows at two events this fall in Washington, DC, both of which are free and open to the public. The NEA National Heritage Fellowships Awards Ceremony will take place at the Library of Congress on Thurday, September 14, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. and the NEA National Heritage Fellowships Concert will take place on Friday, September 15, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium. Concert tickets are first come, first served and will be available later this summer. The concert will also be webcast live at arts.gov. More information about both of these events will be available later this summer. Make a Nomination All NEA National Heritage Fellows have been nominated by the public. If you know of an individual working in the folk and traditional arts who deserves national recognition, please consider making a nomination. The deadline for submitting nominations for next year's National Heritage Fellowships is August 3, 2017. Our nation's highest honor for folk and traditional arts practitioners or advocates, these fellowships recognize lifetime achievement, artistic excellence, and contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage. You can browse the more than 400 past Fellows or make a nominationon the NEA website. Questions? Contact Folk & Traditional Arts Specialist Cheryl Schiele at [email protected].   In This Issue 2017 NEA National Heritage Fellows 2017 Heritage Fellowships Events in D.C. Make a Nomination Facts + Figures NEA  National Heritage Fellowships NEA Folk & Traditional Arts Motion Graphic  Folk & Traditional Arts Staff Clifford Murphy Folk & Traditional Arts Director [email protected] Bill Mansfield Folk & Traditional Arts Specialist [email protected] Cheryl Schiele Folk & Traditional Arts Specialist  [email protected] Jennie Terman Assistant Grants Management Specialist [email protected] Erin Waylor  Division Coordinator [email protected] Stay Connected     National Endowment for the Arts | Folk & Traditional Arts 400 7th Street SW Washington DC, DC 20506  www.arts.gov | [email protected]