YoungArts

The Arison Award is named for the late visionary, entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Arison, founder of Carnival Cruise Lines, who sought a comprehensive method to nurture and support young artists in America. In 1981, together with his wife, Lin, Ted created the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) and the YoungArts program. Since then, more than 16,000 program alumni have been named and even more young people are being encouraged to explore and pursue a career in the arts. The Arison Award, established in 2001, is given annually to an individual who, like the Arison family, has had a considerable influence on the development of young American artists. The award itself is a work of art created by New York City artist, Jean Shin, 1990 YoungArts Winner in Visual Arts and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts.

2012 Arison Awardee: Robert Redford

Robert Redford is recognized widely as an actor, director, activist, and founder of the Sundance Institute & Film Festival. He is an ardent conservationist and environmentalist, a man who stands for social responsibility and political involvement and an artist and businessman who is a staunch supporter of an uncompromised creative expression. His passion remains to make films of substance and social/cultural relevance, as well as to encourage others to express themselves through the arts.

He is recognized the world over for the roles he has played and the projects he has directed or produced throughout a distinguished stage and film career. Believing that it is the unexpected and uncommon, which ultimately enlivens the cultural ecology of a society, Redford has nurtured more than a generation of innovative voices in independent film through his non-profit Sundance Institute and Film Festival.

He has been awarded a Directors Guild of America Award, a Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Director, as well as the Screen Actors Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also the recipient of the 1997 National Medal for the Arts by President Clinton. In December 20055, Redford accepted the Kennedy Center Honors for his “distinguished achievement in the performing arts and in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the life of our country.” He is currently in production on The Company You Keep, in which he will act, direct and produce.

Past Recipients

2011 / Bill T. Jones is a multi-talented artist, choreographer, dancer, theater director and writer. He was inducted into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2009 and named “An Irreplaceable Dance Treasure” by the Dance Heritage Coalition in 2000.  His ventures into Broadway theater resulted in a 2010 Tony Award for Best Choreography in the critically acclaimed FELA!, the new musical co-conceived, co-written, directed and choreographed by Mr. Jones. 

2010 / Liv Ullmann is a Norwegian actress and director. She was an established actress when Ingmar Bergman wrote the film Persona for her. She continued to work with him for the rest of her life and has appeared on the stage and in movies all over the world. She has been nominated twice for an Academy Award and for five years in a row the National Board of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle named her the best film actress in the world.

2009 / James Rosenquist is an International award-winning, world-renowned artist, known for his large scale paintings and as one of the leaders in the 1960’s Pop Art Movement.

2008 / Frank Gehry is aworld renowned architect who has built an architectural career that has spanned four decades and produced public and private buildings in America, Europe and Asia. His work has been hailed as among the most profound and brilliant works of architecture of our time.

2007 / Dave Brubeck is designated a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress, continues to be one of the most active and popular musicians in the world today.  

2006 / Michael Tilson Thomas is a renowned musician and conductor. Artistic director of the New World Symphony, music director of the San Francisco Symphony and principal guest conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

2005 / Mikhail Baryshnikov is a celebrated dancer, choreographer and actor, often cited as one of the best ballet dancers of the 20th century. Has been a principal dancer at New York City Ballet and Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre. Founded the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City. 

2004 / Plácido Domingo is a renowned tenor, known for his versatile and strong voice. Has played more opera roles than any other tenor. Currently serves as General Director of the Washington National Opera in Washington, D.C. and the Los Angeles Opera in California.

2003 / Roberta Guaspari is an inspirational violin and strings teacher in the New York City public school system. She strived to brighten the difficult lives of inner city children by bringing the violin into their lives.

2002 / Jacques d’Amboise is recognized as one of the finest classical dancers of our time and now leads the field of education with a model program that exposes thousands of students each year to the magic of dance.

2001 / Quincy Jones has spent more than 50 years performing and being involved in music. A master of musical hybrids, he has integrated pop, soul, hip-hop, jazz, classical African and Brazilian rhythms into dazzling and distinctive fusions, encompassing virtually every medium, including records, live performances, movies and television.