Americans for the Arts honored seven exceptional individuals at its National Arts Awards black tie gala in New York City. The annual awards recognize artists and arts leaders who exhibit exemplary national leadership and whose work demonstrates extraordinary achievement. This year’s honorees included musicians Tony Bennett and Esperanza Spalding, filmmaker Doug Aitken, philanthropist Roselyn “Cissie” Chroman Swig, leaders Susan and David Goode, and the nonprofit Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.

Tony Bennett was presented the Carolyn Clark Powers Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring a career that has spanned more than seven decades.  By comparison, Esperanza Spalding’s career is still young, though the four-time Grammy Award winner has released five solo albums since her 2006 debut “Junjo.” As the recipient of Americans for the Arts’ Young Artist Award, she said, “When you realize people are paying attention to your work and appreciating it, it’s a big boost, of course, for any creator. So I feel grateful.”