AAF and U.S. Conference of Mayors Nominates Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. for the National Medal of Arts

The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government. The National Medal of Arts is awarded by the President of the United States to individuals or groups who, in his judgment, "...are deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the United States." The nomination is based on Mayor Riley's national leadership in city design and the belief “all citizens, no matter their station in life, deserve beauty and a city they can be proud of.” Mayor Riley is the founder of the Mayors' Institute on City Design. MICD is a program that has been widely recognized for its excellence in contributing to the quality of life of American citizens and has received numerous national recognitions including a Presidential Award for Design Excellence in 2000, a Progressive Architecture Award from Architecture magazine in 1997, and an Institute Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects in 1992.

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