The Vilcek Prize

The Vilcek Foundation awards the Vilcek Prizes annually to individuals born abroad who have made lasting contributions to American society through their extraordinary achievements in biomedical research and the arts and humanities. Two prizes are awarded, one in biomedical research and one in the arts or humanities, in a field designated by the Foundation. In 2012, the arts category is dance (previously: fine art, architecture, music, film, culinary arts, and literature).

It is with great pride that we announce the recipients of the 2012 Vilcek Prizes: Carlos Bustamante, in biomedical science, and Mikhail Baryshnikov, in dance. To learn more about these two accomplished men, please visit our Prize Recipients section. READ MORE >

Vilcek Prize winners each receive $100,000 and a commemorative sculpture, designed by Stefan Sagmeister. The Foundation presents the Vilcek Prizes in an award ceremony held early in spring, in New York City. 

Selection Process

The Foundation appoints nominators, experts in their fields, and asks them to submit the names of potential award winners to two juries, one composed of medical researchers, the other, experts in the cultural discipline under consideration for the current year. Each jury selects one award winner and submits its recommendation to the Foundation’s Board of Directors for final approval.  

The Vilcek Foundation regrets that, due to staffing limitations, it cannot respond to unsolicited nominations.

  • 2012 Vilcek Prizes

    We applaud the recipients of the seventh annual Vilcek Prizes: Carlos Bustamante, PhD, winner of the Vilcek Prize for Biomedical Science, and Mikhail Baryshnikov, winner of the Vilcek Prize for Dance. We salute, too, Creative Promise Prize winners, Alice Ting, PhD, for Biomedical Science, and Michel Kouakou, for Dance. 

     

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  • Press Images

    Images for publication are available to download for press purposes. Please email info@vilcek.org for photo credits.

     

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  • The Vilcek Trophy

    Our commemorative prize sculptures are each uniquely designed by noted Austrian-born designer Stefan Sagmeister, a testament to the individual circumstances and achievements of each Vilcek Prize winner.  Read more about the design and construction process that goes into each trophy. 

     

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