Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

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The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Literature) is an Order of France, established on May 2, 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of l'Ordre National du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is the recognition of significant contributions to the arts, literature, or the propagation of these fields.

According to French government guidelines citizens of France must be at least thirty years old, respect French civil law, and must have, “significantly contributed to the enrichment of the French cultural inheritance.”

Members are not, however, limited to French nationals. Recipients have included numerous foreign luminaries.

Foreign recipients are admitted into the Order, “without condition of age.”

The Order has three grades:

Commandeur (commander) - medallion worn necklet; up to twenty recipients a year.
Officier (officer) - medallion worn on ribbon with rosette on left breast; up to sixty recipients a year.
Chevalier (knight) - medallion worn on ribbon on left breast; up to 200 recipients a year.

The médaille of the Order is an eight-point, green-enameled asterisk, in gilt for commanders and officers, in silver for knights; the obverse central disc has the letters “A” and “L” on a white enamelled background, surrounded by a golden ring emblazoned with the phrase “République Française.” The reverse central disc features the head of Marianne on a golden background, surrounded by a golden ring bearing the words “Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.” The commander's badge is topped by a gilt twisted ring.

The ribbon of the Order is green with four white stripes.

[edit] Notable Foreign recipients

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