Arts Desk

NATIONAL ACADEMY NAMES NEW MEMBERS

The National Academy, the oldest artists association in the United States, has announced the names of the 14 new members. They are: Stephen Antonakos, sculptor; Ben Aronson, painter; Lee Bontecou, sculptor; Vija Celmins, artist; Lesley Dill, sculptor; Charles Gwathmey, architect; Howard Kalish, sculptor; David Kapp, painter; Whitfield Lovell, painter; Robert Mangold, painter; Lorraine Shemesh, painter; Nancy Spero, painter; Bartholomew Voorsanger, architect; and Richard Claude Ziemann, artist. Membership in the honorary association lasts for life.

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MONTEBELLO RECEIVES CINOA PRIZE

The director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philippe de Montebello, has been awarded the 2005 CINOA Prize for his outstanding lifetime contribution to the arts. Mr. Montebello has designated that the 10,000 euros ($12,910) go to the Metropolitan Museum's Director's Discretionary Acquisition Fund.

Philippe de Montebello was selected for the prize by a committee representing the four American associations that belong to the international organization. CINOA, which stands for the Confederation Internationale des Negociants en Oevures d'Art, consists of 31 international trade associations of art and antique dealers with more than 5,000 members representing 21 countries. Mr. Montebello's career as director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art spans 28 years.