The 2025 class of Kennedy Center Honors were announced last week with no details on how the five recipients were selected. While the actual ceremony honouring the recipients is still months away, the format for the tributes is still a mystery.
However, there will be one big change this year…the medallion worn by the recipients.
From the presentation of the first medallion nearly 50 years ago, some 255 award, the medallions have been made by the same company – a family business who made the early medallions sitting at their kitchen table.
Last week, the Kennedy Center informed the Baturin family that their services as the awards makers was no longer needed. Via a letter, the Kennedy Center thanked the Baturin family for their craftsmanship and informed them that they were going in a different direction in regard to the awards presented; saying, “as the Kennedy Center looks toward the future and embarks on a new chapter, we will be transitioning to a new partnership for the creation of the Honors medallions.”
Though not official, reports are that the jeweler Tiffany & Company will be redesigning the award.
Not surprised by the news, Baturin said, “we suspected something would happen as soon as the president decided he was going to take over the Kennedy Center.”
The family noted that it takes months to construct the medallions. He said, “we made every part of it. These ribbons were all alike, and they had to be perfect and that’s what we tried very hard to do.”
The rainbow design of the necklace is meant to represent the many skills within the performing arts – singing, dancing, acting, writing, and directing, etc.
The departure of the Baturin family is the latest in a host of changes since the White House take over of the Kennedy Center in February.
George Strait, Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gayner, the rock band KISS, and Michael Crawford were name the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recipients.