Arts and Culture Leaders Among Winners of MacArthur Prizes

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, in Chicago, has announced the 23 recipients of its 2010 MacArthur Fellowships. Commonly referred to as the "genius awards," the fellowships single out individuals from disparate disciplines who show creativity, originality, and the promise for continued innovative work.

welve women and 11 men won this year's awards; they range in age from 30 to 72. Each fellow receives $500,000 over five years, bestowed with no strings attached. Of the group announced today, 16 fellows work at academic institutions or other nonprofit organizations.