Today Americans for the Arts will announce that sculptor Richard Serra and dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov will be among the presenters at an October 15 ceremony in New York during which the 2012 National Arts Awards will be given to Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul G. Allen, Pop artist James Rosenquist, actor Brian Stokes Mitchell, musician Josh Groban, and philanthropist Lin Arison.

The five prizes, each of which recognizes the recipients’ unique contributions to the arts in the U.S. — for Allen, the Eli and Edythe Broad Award for Philanthropy in the Arts; for Rosenquist, the Isabella and Theodor Dalenson Lifetime Achievement Award; for Mitchell, the Outstanding Contributions to the Arts Award; for Groban, Bell Family Foundation Young Artist Award, and for Arison, the Arts Education Award — will be given at a Maria Bell-chaired dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street, with the honorees receiving their golden Koons balloon bunnies amidst a special installation of works by Julie Mehretu.

This year’s distinguished award-winners join previous honorees including John Baldessari, Chuck Close, Agnes Gund, Cindy Sherman, Kehinde Wiley, Yoko Ono, and many more.

“Paul, Jim, Stokes, Josh and Lin have all strengthened America’s artistic and cultural legacy,” said Americans for the Arts president and CEO Robert L. Lynch in a statement. “Their storied and extraordinary achievements will no doubt serve as inspiration for generations to come.”

The October 15 ceremony and benefit will mark the mid-point of National Arts and Humanities Month.

— Benjamin Sutton

(Image: Award specially designed by artist Jeff Koons in 2010 for the annual National Arts Awards. Courtesy Americans for the Arts.)

Tags: Benjamin Sutton, James Rosenquist, Jeff Koons, National Arts Awards, Paul Allen, Richard Serra