The Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts is among the country's most esteemed arts
awards. Established to honor Eugene McDermott, founder of Texas Instruments and
long-time friend and benefactor to MIT, the award was created by the Council for the
Arts at MIT in 1974, and further endowed by Eugene's wife, Margaret. Since its
inception, the Council has bestowed the award upon 31 individuals producing creative
work in the performing, visual and media arts, as well as authors, art historians and
patrons of the arts.
Over the years the award has grown in stature and significance, paralleling a period of
exceptional growth and achievement in the arts at MIT. Award recipients are chosen by a
committee of Council Members, Arts Faculty and guests. The Committee seeks nominees
whose work represents the very highest level of achievement in their fields, and whose
presence would represent a significant enhancement to the creative life of the MIT
community. A significant cash prize is bestowed with the award, which is considered an
investment in the individual's future creative work, rather than a prize for a
particular project or lifetime of achievement. Awardees participate in a short campus
residency, working within various departments and interrelated disciplines with
students, faculty, and staff.
Eugene McDermott Award Recipients
2006-07
Suzan-Lori Parks, Playwright
Press
Release
Tech
Talk Story
2004-05
Santiago Calatrava, Architect
Press
Release
2004
Libby Larsen, Composer/Musician
Press Release
Tech Talk Story
2003
Vinie Burrows , Actor
Press Release
Tech Talk Story
Tech Talk Coverage
2001
Isaac Julien, Filmmaker
Press Release
Tech Talk Story
2000
CORE Ensemble, Musicians
Tech Talk Story
1999
Diller+Scofidio, Interdisciplinary Art
Tech Talk Story
1998
Junot Diaz, Author
Tech Talk Story
Tech Talk Coverage
1997
Toni Dove, Video Artist
Tech Talk Story
1996
Kenny Leon, Theater Director
Tech Talk Story
Tech Talk Story
1995
Jeff Wall, Photographer
Tech Talk Story
1994
Tan Dun, Composer/Musician
Tech Talk Story
1993
Thomas Hanrahan & Victoria Meyers, Architects
Tech Talk Story
1992
Richard Preston, Author
1991
Rebecca Purdum, Painter
1990
Agnes Denes, Environmental Artist
1989
Ida Ely Rubin, Visual Artist
1988
Yulla Lipchitz
1986
Richard Leacock, Filmmaker
1985
Harold E. Edgerton, Photographer/Inventor
1984
Ieoh Ming Pei, Architect
1983
Albert R. Gurney, Jr., Playwright
1982
Roy Lamson
1981
Henry Moore
1980
Luis A. Ferre
1979
Jerome B. Wiesner
1978
Catherine N. Stratton
1977
James R. Killian, Jr.
1976
Paul Tishman
1975
Klaus Liepmann
1974
Gyorgy Kepes
