<br><br>American Academy of Arts and Letters (English American Academy of Arts and Letters) is a 250-member US organization dedicated to helping, supporting and promoting American art, music and literature.<br><br>Located in New York in Washington Heights near Manhattan. The Academy is open to the public according to the internal regulations. It hosts annual art exhibitions, an auditorium and a permanently recreated studio of composer Charles Ives. President of the Academy in 2015-2018 – Yehudi wyner…<br>Story<br>The Academy was in 1904 by members National Institute of Arts and Letters like the French Academy and chalk the same name. Mark Twain, John Hay, William Howells, Augustus St. Gaudens, John La Farge, Edward McDowell and Edmund clarence stedman… In 1908, Julia Ward Howe was selected to the academy, becoming the first female academician. In 1976, the academy was renamed American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, and since 1992 it bears its real name.<br><br>Initially, the number of members of the academy was limited to 150 persons. In 1904, membership was increased to 250: 50 honorary members (elite) and 200 permanent. The elite part was called the „academy”, the rest – the „institute”. To the 250 citizens of the United States, 75 foreign members were added. The two-tier system was for 72 years (1904-1976).<br><br>During its existence, the Academy has established many awards and prizes, including the prize created in 1980 Witter Bynner Poetry Prize to support young poets. There is also the Architectural Prize, established in 1955, the main award of which is the Arnold Brunner Prize.<br>Building complex<br>The Academy is located in three buildings in a historical place Audubon Terrace Washington Heights, created with funds from Archer Huntington, heir to Collis Huntington, a renowned American and philanthropist.<br><br>One building was designed by an architect William M. Kendall from the McKim, Mead & White and opened in 1923. Another building was designed by the architect Cass Gilbert and built between 1928 and 1930. Third building, built in 1929 by the architect H. Brooks Price, which housed the American Numismatic Society, was transferred to the academy complex in 2007.<br>