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Ford Foundation's Darren Walker Gets France's Highest Honor

This photo provided by Ford Foundation shows Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation receiving France’s highest cultural honor in recognition of his support of the arts and artists on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at the French embassy in New York. “Being in this firmament is absolutely humbling,” Walker told The Associated Press. “I’m simply a servant to the idea of art and justice in the world, because we can’t have justice without art.” (Kisha Bari/Ford Foundation via AP)
This photo provided by Ford Foundation shows Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation receiving France’s highest cultural honor in recognition of his support of the arts and artists on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at the French embassy in New York. “Being in this firmament is absolutely humbling,” Walker told The Associated Press. “I’m simply a servant to the idea of art and justice in the world, because we can’t have justice without art.” (Kisha Bari/Ford Foundation via AP)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (THALIA BEATY)
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New York (AP) -- Darren Walker, Ford Foundation president and preeminent connector and advocate for artists and art institutions, joined the exclusive company of global superstars like Stevie Wonder, T.S. Eliot and Meryl Streep, in receiving France's highest cultural honor.

Walker was named commander of France’s Order of Arts and Letters for his work as a benefactor of the arts on Tuesday at a Gilded Age mansion in New York owned by the French embassy.