“I really believe that my education didn’t start until I started learning about art,” Alice Walton, the founder of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas said last night at the National Arts Awards in New York. Walton, accepting the Arts Education Award from Agnes Gund, was among seven honorees—including Herbie Hancock and Sophia Loren—celebrated by the non-profit arts advocacy group Americans for the Arts, which raised $750,000 at its 55th annual charity event.
The six-time Grammy winner Lady Gaga, who was presented with the Young Artist award by her friend Klaus Biesenbach, the director of MoMA PS1, tearfully called this the most meaningful honour she has ever received. While mentioning art world bigwigs like Jeff Koons (who designed the golden bunny award handed out to honourees in 2009), Gaga also acknowledged the importance of education, thanking her parents for the opportunities they gave her. “And thank you also for giving me religion—so that I could rebel,” she added. Spoken like a true artist.