Alumna Charlotte Eyerman, Executive Director of the Monterey Museum of Art, was awarded the insignia of Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters on October 3, 2014. On behalf of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, Consul General of France in Los Angeles Axel Cruau bestowed the honor (the equivalent of knighthood) at a private ceremony in Beverly Hills, CA.
The Order of Arts and Letters (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) was established in 1957 to recognize eminent artists and writers, as well as people who have contributed significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world. The Order of Arts and Letters is given out three times annually under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Culture and Communication. American recipients of the award include Paul Auster, Ornette Coleman, Agnes Gund, Marilyn Horne, Jim Jarmusch, Richard Meier, Robert Paxton, Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Uma Thurman, William S. Burroughs, and Philip Glass.
Dr. Eyerman was recognized as Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters for her promotion of French culture and heritage as a scholar, curator, and museum professional over the past 20 years. Eyerman earned Master’s and Doctoral degrees in the History of Art at the University of California at Berkeley, with a specialization in 19th-century French art and culture.
